Severe lead poisoning caused by use of health supplements presenting as acute abdominal pain during pregnancy.
BACKGROUND
The public and some health care providers regard complementary and alternative medications as safe. There is no scientific basis for that belief, but there is evidence of poor quality control and toxicity of some remedies.


METHODS
A white pregnant woman presented with diffuse, acute abdominal pain ultimately diagnosed as lead poisoning due to the use of traditional Asian Indian health supplements.


CONCLUSIONS
Use of traditional medicines may extend beyond the ethnic group in which the traditional medicine originated. When symptoms warrant, poisoning with lead or other heavy metals should be considered in the differential diagnosis.
Shamshirsaz
Alireza A
AA
From the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa.
Yankowitz
Jerome
J
Rijhsinghani
Asha
A
Greiner
Andrea
A
Holstein
Sarah A
SA
Niebyl
Jennifer R
JR
D000006:Abdomen, Acute / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy