Successful treatment of extreme acute lead intoxication

Abstract

Severe acute lead intoxications are rare and are associated with accidental or purposeful ingestion. There were only few cases of severe to fatal poisonings reported in literature in children. We report a case of acute lead intoxication in a child with extremely high lead blood level of 20.4 μmol/L (422.7 μg/dL), who was treated with chelation and in whom significant organ dysfunction did not develop. Documented significant high level above 3.37 μmol/L (corresponding to 70 μg/dL) in this patient persisted for approximately 24 h. Adequate, single or combined chelatation therapy in early phase of acute lead poisoning is essential for the further patient’s outcome.