title: Peripheral neuropathy after hair dye exposure: a case report.
abstract: We present a case of length-dependent sensory axonal polyneuropathy due to lead exposure from a cosmetic product. Serial follow-ups showed a direct relationship between the lead level, clinical symptoms, and the polyneuropathy. Our patient had a relatively short-term exposure to lead after misusing a hair dye on his beard. Nerve conduction studies showed a predominantly axonal sensory neuropathy that correlated with lead blood levels and reached 3 times the upper limit of normal. The patient had an unexpected sensory predominant neuropathy. He had a full recovery after stopping the lead-containing product. Blood lead levels were noted to be below previously reported toxic levels. No other systemic signs of lead toxicity were noted. This could be related to the mucosal route of absorption inducing a reversible injury at lower than previously reported lead levels and after a shorter duration of exposure.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts, Worcester, MA; and †Department of Neuro-oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.
authors.forename: Wissam
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Deeb
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cachia
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.forename: Johnny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Salameh
mesh_terms: D006202:Hair Dyes / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D006202:Hair Dyes; D007854:Lead