Herbal Medicine as a Cause of Combined Lead and Arsenic Poisoning

Abstract

1 Combined chronic lead and arsenic poisoning was diagnosed in a 33-year-old Korean woman following consumption of a Korean herbal medicine prescribed for haemorrhoids. 2 The patient had malaise, severe difficulty walking, arthralgia, oedema and abdominal pain with diarrhoea. 3 Investigation showed anaemia with basophilic stippling, fragmentation and a raised reticulocyte count. 4 Raised blood and urine lead levels and urine arsenic levels were found. 5 Analysis of the herbal medicine revealed a high lead and arsenic content. 6 Treatment with the newer chelating agent 2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid was successful, with no detectable side-effects.