ABSTRACT

Hong Kong Med J 2002;8:60-2 | Number 1, February 2002
CASE REPORT
Three patients with lead poisoning following use of a Chinese herbal pill
TW Auyeung, KKF Chang, CH To, A Mak, ML Szeto
Department of Medicine and Geriatrics, Tuen Mun Hospital, Tsing Chung Koon Road, Tuen Mun, Hong Kong
 
 
We report on three patients with lead poisoning following use of the Chinese herbal pill Bao ning dan, prepared by the same traditional Chinese medicine practitioner. The patients had varying degrees of exposure to Bao ning dan and different clinical manifestations. Blood lead concentrations did not correlate with clinical severity. Two patients received chelating therapy and blood lead concentrations subsequently rapidly decreased. One patient was managed conservatively and end-organ complications resolved gradually. With increasing use of traditional Chinese medicines, related adverse reactions are expected to become increasingly common. Practitioners of western medicine should remain alert to this possibility. A comprehensive drug review, including the use of herbal medicines, should form a routine part of medical history taking.
 
Key words: Drugs, Chinese herbal; Lead poisoning; Medicine, Chinese traditional
 
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