title: Lead concentrations in blood, plasma, erythrocytes, and cerebrospinal fluid in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
abstract: The purpose of the investigation was to elucidate the repeatedly discussed relationship between chronic lead intoxication and ALS. The following mean lead concentrations were determined in 9 patients with ALS: 8.65 +/- 3,91 micrograms/100 ml in the blood, 0.97 +/- 0.78 microgram/100 ml in the plasma, 19.15 +/- 5.0 micrograms/100 ml in the erythrocytes, and 0.89 +/- 0.44 microgram/100 ml in the cerebrospinal fluid. These values did not differ appreciably from the controls with 7.91 +/- 3.83 micrograms/100 ml (n = 14) in the blood, 1.13 +/- 0.46 microgram/100 ml (n = 10) in the plasma, 18.96 +/- 12.63 micrograms/100 ml (n = 10) in the erythrocytes, and 0.85 +/- 0.91 microgram/100 ml (n = 15) in the cerebrospinal fluid. These findings do not support the assumption of lead poisoning as a pathogenetic factor in ALS.
mesh_terms: D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D007854:Lead