title: Ultrasonographic Measurement of the Achilles and Supraspinatus Tendon Thicknesses in Patients with Chronic Lead Exposure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study aimed to assess tendon thickness in patients with chronic occupational lead exposure by using ultrasonography.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-seven male workers (mean age 32.9 ± 6.2 years, range 25-44 years) with occupational lead exposure and 27 age- and body mass index (BMI)-matched healthy male subjects (mean age 33.1 ± 5.6 years, range 25-44 years) were enrolled. Ultrasonographic measurements were obtained from the supraspinatus and Achilles tendons by using a linear probe (5-10 MHz).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean Achilles tendon values at long axis (p = 0.034) and tendon cross-sectional area (p = 0.013) were significantly smaller in the lead-exposed group than the control group. On the other hand, no significant difference was found regarding the thickness of the supraspinatus tendon (p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our preliminary results imply that subjects with occupational lead exposure have smaller Achilles tendons than healthy subjects. Chronic lead exposure may affect the tendons due to reduction of collagen synthesis. Further studies are definitely needed to confirm our initial findings.
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, Ankara Occupational Diseases Hospital, Keçiören, Ankara, Turkey. aebaki@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Baki
authors.affiliation: Ankara Occupational Diseases Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Yıldızgören
authors.affiliation: Ankara Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kara
authors.affiliation: Ankara Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ekiz
authors.affiliation: Ankara Occupational Diseases Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tutkun
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Hacettepe University Medical School, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Özçakar