[Changes of hemoglobinemia during chelating therapy in lead poisoning]

The modifications of the Hb level of 32 subjects in which a lead poisoning occurred were studied during chelation therapy. 27 subjects showed a subclinical lead poisoning picture; 5 subjects suffered for a mild anemia. At the end of therapy, the mean Hb value of the whole group increased from 14.5 g/100 ml to 15.8 g/100 ml; the 5 subjects with anemia showed a remission and their mean Hb level increased from 12.3 to 15.1 g/100 ml. A group of 12 subjects with Hb values at the lower normal limits and 10 subjects with "apparently normal" values of Hb showed a significant increase in the Hb level following the treatment. The results obtained confirm the inhibitory activity exerted by lead on the heme synthesis also during preclinic lead poisoning and suggesting the opportunity of a constant evaluation of the Hb levels in order to decide the doses and the lengths of the chelation therapy and to lead the decision about the readmission to the working activity.