US EPA

1360520 

Technical Report 

Myocardiac attacks in the course of occupational arsenic poisoning 

Leng-Levy, J; Aubertin, J; Leng, B; Magendie, P; Marion, J; Mauriac, M 

1969 

HAPAB/70/01071 

Maladies Profess 

7-8 

434-6 

fre 

HAPAB A wine-grower, aged 41 years had been suffering from severe and daily epistaxis for 1 month; 15 days prior to hospitalization, a sudden severe edema of the legs and face appeared. The patient had also complained about shortness of breath when under exertion, nocturnal dyspnea and a diarrhetic episode. A discoloration of the conjunctival mucosa was immediately noticed when the patient was admitted. A thorough physical examination was conducte/ and revealed the patient to be anemic ( 2,260000 RBC ); suffering from several cardiac irregularities, such as abnormal heartbeat, pulmonary stasis, enlargement of the left ventricle and radiating epicardial ischemia as indicated by the ECG; and sensorimotor polyneuritis of the extremities. All the clinical, radiological and electrocardiographic signs disappeared without the aid of medication. Further examination led to the conclusion that the patient had been suffering from =pyralion= poisoning. The patient had recently used pyralion in treating vine plants. The patient was treated with chelating agents ( BAL alternated with penicillamine ) for a period of about 14 weeks. By October 3, 1967, the pyralion had been completely eliminated rom the patient's system. Because of the importance of knowing the symptoms of arsenical poisoning for early diagnosis and treatment, they are discussed in detail at the end of this study. The part played by the cardiac syndrom in the clinical diagnosis cannot be overemphasized. Epidemiology and Treatment 70/08/00, 328 1969