Case presentation:
A 32-year-old man who has been in contact with molten lead in a battery factory for four years presented to the emergency ward with a history of chronic abdominal pain with anorexia and constipation, which has worsened in the last three weeks. In addition to abdominal pain, physical examination revealed bluish gingival pigmentation, also known as Burtonian or lead line at the gum tooth line, which is a rare presentation of lead poisoning and may not be presented if the patient had good oral hygiene (1).
The laboratory testing revealed a lead blood level of 165 micrograms per deciliter (normal value, < 25 micrograms per deciliter) and hypochromic microcytic anemia. Basophilic stippling was seen in the peripheral blood smear.
The patient has been admitted into our hospital’s toxicology and poisoning ward and has been treated with the Succimer as a chelator therapy. Other treatments and diagnostic evaluations are being followed.
More attention of the medical staff to this symptom can lead to faster diagnosis and timely treatment of patients.