The major advantage of measuring urinary ALA levels rather than blood lead is the prolonged increase in urine. ALA remains increased for at least a year after lead exposure has been controlled.
Peter
Peter Howell
Wrexham Maelor Hospital
Wrexham
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ian Holbrook [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 16 January 2003 16:02
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: lead worker
>
> Dear all,
>
> I wonder if anyone has any suggestions for further investigations we might do on a patient in our hospital at the moment.
>
> She is a 20 year old who works with stained glass and lead. Blood lead levels have been checked regularly and have been between 25-29 ug/100mL (1.21-1.39 umol/L). Her most recent level was 25 ug/100mL on 12/01/2003. She complains of headaches and lethargy for the last 5-6 weeks and more recently of abdominal pain. The lead levels are just within the limits for a young female working with lead but could they explain her symptoms? The physicians tell me that her sclera is a duck-egg blue colour and she has distinct white lines on her nails. They cannot see any lines on her gums. I don't know if she could have been exposed to other heavy metals in the course of her work but it is a possibility.
>
> Any suggestions would be welcome.
>
> Kind regard
>
> Ian Holbrook
>
> Dept. Chemical Pathology
> York Hospital
> Wigginton Road
> York YO31 8HE
> UK
> 01904 725786
>
> _____
>
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