title: Urinary delta-aminolevulinic acid as a biological indicator throughout penicillamine therapy in lead intoxication.
abstract: A group of 121 patients with occupational lead exposure was studied. Saturnism was confirmed in 42 of them. Patients were given D-penicillamine in doses of 0.75 and 1.5 g/day. Urinary delta-aminolevulinic acid was selected as a toxicity biological indicator; its concentrations were quantified daily during therapy. Urinary delta-aminolevulinic acid is considered a good biological indicator throughout penicillamine therapy and also in the detection of lead intoxication. Likewise, the chelating test is considered an excellent method to confirm the diagnosis of lead poisoning.
mesh_terms: D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid / Q000652:urine*; D006801:Humans; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000652:urine; D007982:Levulinic Acids / Q000652:urine*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000652:urine; D010396:Penicillamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D007982:Levulinic Acids; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid; D010396:Penicillamine