[Ingested lead cartridges cause trouble].
BACKGROUND
Lead poisoning is rare. Intake of lead shots may cause damage of the bone marrow, the nervous system, the liver, the kidneys and the endocrine organs.


METHODS
We present two patients who had taken approximately 120 grams of lead shots. They developed asthenia, nausea and abdominal pain. We tried to remove the lead shots with fluids, laxatives and colonoscopy, but ultimately surgical intervention had to be performed. The patients were also treated with dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA).


CONCLUSIONS
Although DMSA treatment is associated with a significant decrease in blood lead concentration and an increase of lead urinary excretion, surgical intervention is the most efficient way of treating oral intake of lead. Treatment with DMSA will probably have to go on for months in order to give an additional effect.
Bygdnes
Liv
L
Medisinsk avdeling, Hålogalandsykehuset Harstad, 9480 Harstad. livbygdn@online.no
Kildahl-Andersen
Odd
O
Berg
Janna
J
Skjerdal
Jartrud
J
Jacobsen
Dag
D
D000328:Adult; D000931:Antidotes / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D004113:Succimer / Q000008:administration & dosage
D000931:Antidotes; D004113:Succimer