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HERO ID
6705105
Reference Type
Book/Book Chapter
Title
Long-term occupational lead exposure and chronic nephropathy
Author(s)
Nedelescu, M; Baconi, DL; Stan, M; Vlasceanu, AM; Ciobanu, AM
Year
2018
Publisher
Filodiritto
Location
Bologna, Italy
Book Title
21st century pharmacy - Between intelligent specialization and social responsibility
Page Numbers
140-144
Language
English
Web of Science Id
WOS:000471845800025
Abstract
Introduction: Exposure to heavy metals has been known for thousands of years. In particular, exposure to lead is considered one of the oldest occupational exposures. Chronic lead exposure can affect a variety of organs in the body, including the kidney, producing a chronic interstitial nephritis. The incidence of lead poisoning has decreased dramatically over the past decades due to legislative efforts to prevent environmental and occupational contamination, thereby reducing population exposure. Currently, symptomatic lead intoxication has become extremely rare, few cases being reported in occupationally exposed people.
Material and method: In this paper we report two cases of male workers in a metallurgical company with repeated episodes of clinical lead poisoning associated with renal function impairment.
Results: Two male patients aged 55 and 45 years were hospitalized in an occupational medicine clinic, presenting asthenia, fatigue, pollakiuria and dysuria. The following findings have contributed to diagnosis of occupational lead poisoning: history of long-term professional exposure to lead compounds (35 years, respectively 21 years), elevated blood lead levels (64,5 mu g/dL; 47,4 mu g/dL) and a urinary excretion of 410 mu g, respectively 106,2 mu g lead /72h after a mobilisation test by a Ca-Na2+-EDTA chelating agent. Moderate anemia and impaired renal function associated with elevated serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen and uric acid are present in both patients.
Conclusions: Chronic nephropathy is one manifestation of occupational lead poisoning, especially in the case of long-term exposure. Lead chelation and urinary excretion is helpful both in the diagnosis and the treatment of this disease.
Keywords
heavy metals; lead; nephrotoxicity; occupational exposure; chelation therapy; Copp Mica
Editor(s)
Draganescu, D; Arsene, A
Series
The Romanian National Congress of Pharmacy - 17th Edition
ISBN
9788885813281
Conference Name
17th Romanian National Congress of Pharmacy
Conference Location
Bucharest, Romania
Conference Dates
September 26-29, 2018
Tags
NAAQS
•
ISA - Lead (2024 Final Project Page)
Title-Abstract Screening (SWIFT-AS) - Included
Title-Abstract Screening (SWIFT-AS) - Included
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