Abstract

• A case of lead poisoning is presented and recent litures are reviewed. A 47-year old male had been admitted to Ewha Womans University Hospital in March 1983 with chief complaints of abdominal colic & distention, nausea and tingling sensation of lower extremities after ingestion of herb pills(HAE GU SIN). Laboratory examinations are as follows; anemia with hypocromic, microcytic, basophilic stippling of erythrocytes in peripheral blood and bone marrow. Blood level of lead was 34.6mcg/dl, urine level of lead was 128.4mcg/L, coproporphyrine and ▵-ALA in 24hours urine were 270.8mcg/L, 19.9mg/L respectively. After treatment with BAL for 1 day, blood level of lead was 30.4mcg/dl, urine level of lead was 2988.6mcg/L, coproporphyrine and ▵-ALA in 24hours urine were increased to 667.2mcg/L, 5.5mg/L respectively and quantitative analysis of herb pills revealed 10% of containing lead.