Case of acute lead toxicity associated with Ayurvedic supplements

Use of traditional folkloric remedies not disclosed to the physician may be difficult to identify as a source of lead toxicity. This report illustrates the presentation of a 26-year-old man who, during his 1 month vacation in India, was treated for low back pain with Ayurvedic herbal medicine. On hi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BMJ case reports 2016-06, Vol.2016, p.bcr2016215041
Main Authors: Breyre, Amelia, Green-McKenzie, Judith
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abdomen
Acute Disease
Adult
Arsenic
Ayurvedic medicine
Chelating agents
Chelation therapy
Diagnosis, Differential
Health services
Herbal medicine
Hospitals
Humans
Indian sub-continent
Laboratories
Lead content
Lead poisoning
Lead Poisoning - etiology
Male
Medicine, Ayurvedic
Metals
Pain
Plant Preparations - adverse effects
Reminder of Important Clinical Lesson
Spectrum analysis
Toxicity
Treatment Outcome
USA/Canada
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Summary:Use of traditional folkloric remedies not disclosed to the physician may be difficult to identify as a source of lead toxicity. This report illustrates the presentation of a 26-year-old man who, during his 1 month vacation in India, was treated for low back pain with Ayurvedic herbal medicine. On his return to the USA, he presented to the emergency department with epigastric pain, weight loss, dark stools, nausea and vomiting. He was admitted and noted to be anaemic with a blood lead level (BLL) of 94.8 µg/dL. Peripheral blood smear demonstrated basophilic stippling. Chelation therapy with succimer was initiated. The patient became asymptomatic within months. Three years later, he remained asymptomatic with BLL
ISSN:1757-790X
1757-790X
DOI:10.1136/bcr-2016-215041