[A case of barium-peritoneum with neurological involvement. Importance of barium determination in biological fluids]

Barium in the peritoneum following a barium enema led to a severe and irreversible chronic barium poisoning, although from the abdominal and gastro-intestinal point of view, there were virtually no sequelae. Barium assay on the cerebro-spinal fluid of this patient revealed excessively high levels, which provides the laboratory evidence of the direct action of barium on the central nervous system. Barium assays on biological fluids after barium-peritoneum could be used to assess the degree of barium poisoning and may have prognostic value.