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Showing 4 results for Lead Poisoning
Association of lead concentration in colostrum, maternal and cord blood with newborn weight in polluted vs. non-polluted areas of Iran
Golmohammadi T, Ansari M, Nikzamir A, Safary R, Elahi S,
Volume 65, Issue 8 (11-2007)
Abstract

Background: Lead poisoning has proven to be one of the most important environmental health problems among developing countries with both direct and indirect effects on human life. Lead is known to cross the blood-brain barrier and placenta, and accumulates in soft and hard tissues. Lead can be excreted in urine, stool, milk, sweat, nails and saliva. During pregnancy and lactation, lead is released from bones into the blood along with Ca2+. The toxic effects of lead on various human tissues have been studied extensively, but few studies have addressed its impact on fetal development during pregnancy. Blood levels of lead are higher in people living in lead-polluted regions. It has been reported that Tehran (central and southern parts) is the most problematic city in terms of lead poisoning.

Methods: From 86 sets of mothers and newborns in a non-polluted area of rural Rasht, Iran, we examined specimens of maternal blood, cord blood and colostrum (86×3=258) and specimens from 85 sets of mothers and newborns in a polluted area of Tehran, Iran (85×3=255) for lead levels using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) and analyzed the results by t-test, SPSS, and linear regression.

Results: The mean blood lead concentrations of mothers, cord blood of newborns and colostrum were 7.6±4.1, 5.9±3 and 4.2±2.5 μg/dl, respectively, in the non-polluted area and 9.1±8.4, 6.5±5.2 and 5.8±5.5 μg/dl, respectively, in the polluted area. The mean weights of the newborns in non-polluted and polluted areas were 3.2±0.5 kg and 3.2±4.5 kg, respectively.

Conclusions: Our data revealed an association between mean concentrations in blood lead of mothers and newborns and between mean concentrations of colostrum lead and newborn blood lead in both areas (p=0.01). There was no association between mean blood lead concentration of mothers with the weight of their newborns (p=0.89).


Quadriplegia due to lead-contaminated opium: a case report
Baigmohammadi Mt, Mohammadi M, Mahmoodpour A, Karvandian K, Aghdashi M,
Volume 66, Issue 7 (10-2008)
Abstract

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Background: Lead poisoning could be associated with gastrointestinal renal, hematologic complications and neurologic deficit.
Case report: The patient was an opium addict, forty one years old male, to hospital admitted with gastrointestinal signs, constipation, abdominal pain, severe weakness of upper and lower limbs without any sensory impairment and with anemia, leukocytosis, and slightly increased liver function tests. Serum level of lead was more than 200µg/dl. After treatment with dimercaprol (BAL), CaNa2EDTA for two five days sessions that followed with oral succimer for three days, signs and symptoms relieved, all laboratory tests became normal and blood level of lead reduced but the patient was discharged with quadriplegia. There was no fecal or urinary incontinence.
Conclusions: Because of irreversibility and severity of lead related neuronal injury, we should suspect to lead poisoning in each patient with neuronal involvement and concurrent GI and hematologic signs.


Evaluation of thyroid hormones in patients with lead poisoning
Saeed Nouri , Anahita Zoghi , Mohammad Reza Sharif , Najla Farhang , Maziar Shojaei ,
Volume 76, Issue 7 (10-2018)
Abstract
Background: Each toxic agent results in unique presentations, depending on what neurophysiological changes occur following exposure. Scientific understanding of lead toxicity in the organ systems and at low levels of exposure continues to evolve. However, effects of lead poisoning on the thyroid gland function are controversial. In this descriptive study, changes in thyroid hormones in patients with lead poisoning were compared with patients with opioid addiction and healthy individual who were matched for age and sex.
Methods: In this descriptive study, which was conducted from March 2016 to February 2017 in Loghman Hakim Hospital in Tehran, ninety patients were evaluated using convenient sampling method for lead and thyroid hormones levels. The levels of lead and thyroid hormones were evaluated using standard laboratory method, in thirty male patients with lead poisoning, thirty male patients with opioid addiction referring to addiction treatment center and thirty healthy male referring to a blood donation center who were matched for age. Thyroid function parameters in patients with lead toxicity were compared with those of control groups.
Results: The lead level in the lead toxicity group was 57.5±23.5 µg/dl, in the first control group with opium addiction 7.8±3.8 µg/dl and in the healthy male referring to a blood donation center, 5.9±9 µg/dl. Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) was significantly lower in patients with lead poisoning (0.2±0.01 Milli-International Units Per Liter (mIU/L) than in the patients with opioid addiction (2.4±1/05 mIU/L) and healthy male referring to a blood donation center (2.3±0.01 mIU/L) (P= 0.04), and thyroxine hormone (T4) was significantly higher in patients with lead poisoning (17.8±2.6 µg/dl) than in the patients with opioid addiction (8.8±1/9 µg/dl) and healthy male referring to a blood donation center (7.4±3.5 µg/dl) (P= 0.02).
Conclusion: Lead toxicity has an effect on thyroid function and it reduces thyroid stimulating hormone and increases thyroxin levels. Clinicians should be aware of the potential hazardous effects of lead on the thyroid and mechanisms through which lead causes these effects on thyroid function need to be elucidated.

Alterations in liver and thyroid function tests in patients with lead poisoning
Behzad Hatami , Saeed Abdi , Hosein Noori, Hamid Mehrad,
Volume 80, Issue 1 (4-2022)
Abstract
Background: Exposure to lead, damages vital organs and is now a global concern. Toxic effects of lead on the liver and thyroid gland have been mentioned previously, sometimes with conflicting results. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess changes in liver and thyroid function tests in patients with lead poisoning.
Methods: This case-control study was performed on 100 patients with clinical evidence of lead poisoning who were referred to Loghman-e-Hakim hospital in Tehran from April to December 2018. Also, another 100 participants with the matched sex and age, a history of opium use, and exposure to lead or non-work-related metals, and with normal lead levels, were considered as a control group. Demographic information was collected by a trained researcher by reviewing hospital records or interviewing participants. To monitor lead levels in the control group, 5 ml of venous blood was collected from the antecubital vein at 7 to 8 am in sterile tubes containing EDTA as an anticoagulant. Serum lead levels were assessed by GBC Avanta atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Values in the two groups were compared. SPSS version 16 (SPSS Inc. Chicago, Il, The USA) was used for data analysis. A P-value below 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: The mean level of serum lead in case and control groups were 63.0±12.4 μg/dL and 6.0±2.1 μg/dL, respectively with a statistically significant difference (p<0.001). However, Alkaline phosphatase (ALKp), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) enzymes were significantly higher in cases compared to controls (p<0.001). The thyroid-stimulating hormone in patients with lead poisoning (0.3±0.04 MIU/L) was significantly lower than those in the control group (2.5±1.23) (P=0.04).
Conclusion: Lead poisoning could potentially damage liver function and elevate liver enzymes. Moreover, it can also affect the levels of TSH and levothyroxine. Understanding the exact mechanisms might help to control The hepatotoxic effects of lead in patients. Also, knowing the pattern of elevated liver enzymes and thyroid hormones changes might help discriminate lead poisoning with other differential diagnoses.

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