title: Lead poisoning--a family study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A family study is used to highlight the varied manifestations of lead poisoning and difficulties in diagnosis and treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 42-year-old Italian woman with a known beta-thalassaemia trait presented with a two-year history of disabling pains and symptomatic anaemia, which were found to be caused by lead poisoning.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Screening for lead poisoning among her immediate family members identified two others with different manifestations of plumbism. All three needed active chelating, which resulted in resolution of their symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The similar haematological findings of beta-thalassaemia and lead poisoning may lead to a delay in diagnosis and treatment of lead poisoning when these two conditions coexist.
authors.affiliation: Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville, SA.
authors.forename: F X
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Parnis
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kotasek
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Sage
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004112:Dimercaprol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010375:Pedigree; D010396:Penicillamine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D004112:Dimercaprol; D007854:Lead; D004492:Edetic Acid; D010396:Penicillamine