[Lead and blood pressure].
Evidence, even if not univocal, of increase of systolic and diastolic blood pressure for Pb doses lower than 30 microg/dl stimulated studies in the last years and opened a discussion on a possible relapse in morbility and mortality, since hypertension is an important factor of cardiovascular risk. In this study, it was possible to investigate the relationship between lead and blood pressure of 303 subjects occupationally exposed to this metal with blood-Pb between 10 and 80 microg/dl and 206 subjects belonging to the general population with blood-Pb between 0.5 and 9 microg/dl. In both groups it resulted a positive and statistically significant correlation between blood-Pb values and systolic and diastolic blood pressure values, in detail in hypertensive subjects, belonging to the not-occupationally exposed group, this effect is proportionally higher. The effect of lead on blood pressure appears therefore proved, as confirmed by previous literature, but taking into consideration three specific information. It presents itself in a large range of doses, it is quantitatively very modest, it appears more evident at low doses, thus we could hypothesize different mechanisms for different doses.
Apostoli
P
P
Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale ed Applicata, Sezione di Medicina del Lavoro e Igiene Industriale, Università degli Studi di Brescia, Italy. apostoli@med.unibs.it
Corulli
A
A
Carta
P
P
Soleo
L
L
DiLorenzo
L
L
Abritti
G
G
Cabassi
A
A
DePalma
G
G
Ganzi
A
A
DeiCas
L
L
Mutti
A
A
D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure
D007854:Lead