title: [Lead poisoning. Apropos of a case of acute encephalopathy in an adult].
abstract: Although acute lead encephalopathy is rare in adults, the authors had the opportunity to observe a case in a patient who had been exposed to lead occupationally for 25 years. This patient was also seen to be suffering from anemia and polyneuropathy. The blood lead level was 591 micrograms/100 ml (28,52 mumol/l). A review of the literature concerning the principal sources of lead poisoning, routes of absorption, metabolism and consequences of poisoning is conducted. Treatment by chelating agents is discussed. CaNa2-EDTA was administered by i.v. infusion over 24 hours and a favorable evolution was rapidly observable in the encephalopathy and anemia. On the other hand, the polyneuropathy was intensified, a fact which may have been caused by redistribution of lead in the soft tissues.
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000740:Anemia / Q000139:chemically induced; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D004492:Edetic Acid
vernacular_title: L'intoxication saturnine. A propos d'un cas d'encéphalopathie aiguë chez un adulte.