[Lead poisoning - also today still current]

Even today lead intoxication may occasionally occur. As shown in this case report, careful history including that of the occupational environment may cause suspicion, when complaints such as abdominal pain and constipation are associated with erythrogenic disturbances due to inhibition of certain enzymes of hem synthesis. Although changes in peripheral blood and bone marrow may be typical, lead intoxication can definitely be diagnosed only by determination of lead in blood and urine, of accumulated porphyrins in the red blood cells and of the typical pattern of hem precursors in the urine. Finally, this report deals with the therapy of lead intoxication.