[Lead poisoning in adults. Experience of the Poison Control Center of Marseille from 1993 to 2000].
OBJECTIVE
Report the experience of the Marseille's anti-poison center with lead poisoning adults.


METHODS
Between 1993 and 2000, 45 adults patients consulted the poison Centre of Marseille for a history of lead exposure (9 women, 36 men, average age 44 YO, between 22 an 76 YO). The lead sources were mostly occupational (welding, heavy metal industries...), but some were environmental (shooting as a hobby, hunting,...).


RESULTS
Ninety-one percent of the patients presented with a clinical feature of possible lead intoxication (asthenia, abdominal pain, anaemia, seizures,...). For 22 patients, calcitetracemate provocation test was negative. 6 patients with a positive test refused to be treated. 16 patients with a positive test were treated with chelation therapy (average lead blood level 566 micrograms/l--mini 320 micrograms/l, maxi 943 micrograms/l--and average lead urine elimination 3,011 micrograms/24 H--mini 789 micrograms/24 H, maxi 7,229 micrograms/24 H. 58 cures were done (1 to 12 cures for each patient). The average quantities of lead eliminated in the urine during the chelation therapy was 30,912 micrograms +/- 29,059 micrograms by case. For 12 patients who stopped the lead exposure after the diagnosis of lead poisoning, the chelaion therapy permitted to decrease the lead blood level of 69%. For 4 patients still exposed during the treatment, the lead blood level decrease of 7% only. For the 16 treated patiEnts, a clinical improvement was noted, and no adverse effects of chelation therapy was observed during the 58 cures.
de Haro
L
L
Centre antipoison, Hôpital Salvator, 249 Bd Sainte Marguerite, F13274 Marseille.
Prost
N
N
Gambini
D
D
Bourdon
J H
JH
Hayek-Lanthois
M
M
Valli
M
M
Jouglard
J
J
Arditti
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011039:Poison Control Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002614:Chelating Agents
Le saturnisme des adultes. Expérience du Centre antipoison de Marseille de 1993 à 2000.