Effectiveness of Ethylene Diamine Tetra Acetic Acid Treatment in Patients with Lead Poisoning Referred to Baharloo Hospital, Tehran

Document Type : Original Article (s)

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Center of Toxicology Baharloo Hospital, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

2 Associate Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

3 Associate Professor, Department of Occupational Medicine, Occupational Diseases Research Center, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

4 Associate Professor, Sina Trauma and Surgery Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

5 Forensic Medicine, Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

6 Department of Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Background: Lead is a metal that has been used by humans since ancient times and it’s over dosage causes an important environmental and professional toxicity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of single therapy with Ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA) in lead poisoning.Methods: The study population was all patients with suspected lead poisoning were admitted to Baharloo hospital in Iran from January 20, 2005 to March 21, 2006. Diagnosis of lead poisoning was confirmed after history taking, clinical examinations and blood lead level. After obtaining informed consent, the patients were enrolled in our study. Allowed lead level was considered < 50 µg/dl. These patients were hospitalized for 5 days and treated with EDTA (1 g every 12 hours via slow intravenous infusion). CBC, urea, creatinine, liver function tests, coagulation tests and biochemical tests including glucose, lipids, electrolytes and uric acid, urinalysis, and urine volume was measured daily. The patients would be excluded if there were any contraindication for EDTA treatment, hepatic encephalopathy and blood lead level over than 150 µg/dl were considered as the exclusion criteria. All patients’ blood lead level was measured again 10 and 30 days after treatment. To analyze data, Wilcoxon test and SPSS software (version 16) were used.Findings: Forty one patients were studied. All were male. The patients’ mean age was 32 ± 6 years. The patients’ average blood lead level was 110.3 ± 5 37 µg/dl before the treatment. The patients’ average blood lead level was 63.4 ± 27.1 µg/dl ten days after treatment and 79.3 ± 28 µg/dl one month after treatment. The patients’ average blood lead level decreased significantly 10 days and one month after the treatment compared to begining (P < 0.001 and P < 0.012 respectively).Conclusion: EDTA is an effective drug for the treatment of patients with lead poisoning as single therapy.

Keywords

References

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Journal of Isfahan Medical School
Volume 29, Issue 143 - Serial Number 143
May and June 2011
Pages 773-779

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History

  • Receive Date: 04 April 2011
  • Revise Date: 01 November 2024
  • Accept Date: 06 April 2022

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