title: Lead brachial neuropathy in heroin addiction. A case report.
abstract: The possible toxical effect of heavy metals in the pathogenesis of brachial and lumbar plexopathies during heroin addiction has been previously hypothesized by some authors, but never detected. A 24-year-old man, addicted to heroin showed the clinical picture of a symmetrical brachial neuropathy, without other neurological involvement. Lead poisoning was detected in this patient and the chelating therapy induced a marked improvement of the clinical symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience - University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Antonini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palmieri
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Spagnoli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Millefiorini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D003932:Heroin; D006801:Humans; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D003932:Heroin