Occupational Lead Poisoning in a Patient with Acute Abdomen and Normocytic Anemia
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- Kaneko Masahiko
- Department of Internal Medicine, Uwajima City Hospital, Japan
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- Kazatani Takurou
- Department of General Medicine, Ehime Prefectural Central Hospital, Japan
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- Shikata Hisaharu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Uwajima City Hospital, Japan
Abstract
<p>We herein report a 24-year-old male construction worker with occupational lead poisoning who presented with acute abdomen and normocytic anemia. The levels of urinary delta-aminolevulinic acid and free erythrocyte protoporphyrin were elevated without any increase in the level of urine porphobilinogen. Detection of an elevated blood lead level of 100 μg/dL confirmed a diagnosis of lead poisoning. Chelation therapy with calcium disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate resulted in prompt improvement of the clinical symptoms and the blood lead level. Clinicians should be aware that lead poisoning caused by occupational exposure can still occur sporadically in construction workers in Japan. </p>
Journal
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- Internal Medicine
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Internal Medicine 59 (12), 1565-1570, 2020-06-15
The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine
