title: The "lead-induced colic" syndrome in lead intoxication.
abstract: Lead has a multiplicity of biologic effects. The universal occurrence of lead accounts for the continuous appearance of new instances of human lead poisoning. The most common and one of the earliest manifestations of lead intoxication in the adult is so-called lead-induced colic, which is a syndrome with a multiplicity of clinical patterns and at least three possible different pathogenic mechanisms. It may be caused by changes in the visceral smooth muscle tone secondary to the action of lead on the visceral autonomic nervous system, lead-induced alterations in sodium transport in the small-intestinal mucosa, and lead-induced interstitial pancreatitis. It should be considered in the differential diagnosis of abdominal pain of obscure etiology and whenever a disparity is observed between the symptoms and the abdominal findings in a patient with abdominal pain, especially in the presence of a history of occupational exposure to lead.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Janin
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Couinaud
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wise
mesh_terms: D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000187:drug effects; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects; D003085:Colic / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000266:history; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004739:England; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D005060:Europe; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000266:history; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects; D007854:Lead / Q000378:metabolism; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000266:history; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000139:chemically induced; D000623:Porphobilinogen Synthase / Q000097:blood; D011524:Protoporphyrins / Q000097:blood; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D011524:Protoporphyrins; D007854:Lead; D000623:Porphobilinogen Synthase