A Case Report of Lead Poisoning Caused by Traditional Chinese Medicine

Xiao Xiao Wu

Laboratory Medicine Centre, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Union Shenzhen Hospital (Nanshan Hospital), China

^*Correspondance to: Xiao Xiao Wu 

 PDF  Full Text Case Report | Open Access

Abstract:

Traditional Chinese herbal medicine is widely used for health care worldwide. Chinese herbal medicine is assumed to be mostly safe, however, the potential toxicity and side effects should not be ignored. Here, we report a case of lead poisoning caused by using of homemade TCM. A 44-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for abdominal pain. Several diseases, including acute pancreatitis and mechanical intestinal obstruction, were suspected, but all were excluded due to the unremarkable laboratory tests results. Peripheral blood smear and bone marrow aspirate showed basophilic stippling of erythrocytes, high blood lead level (50.3 μg/dL (normal range <10 μg/dL), which confirmed the lead poisoning. Also, his clinical picture, such as anemia and abdominal disorders, was consistent with lead poisoning. A detailed medication history revealed the lead source was the homemade TCM which was used for herpes zoster. After treating the patient with chelating therapy, his hemoglobin was normalized and lead level in the blood decreased.

Keywords:

Lead poisoning; TCM; Abdominal pain

Cite the Article:

Xiao Xiao Wu. A Case Report of Lead Poisoning Caused by Traditional Chinese Medicine. Clin Case Rep Int. 2023; 7: 1630.