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.