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The Interpretation of Zinc Protoporphyrin Changes in Lead Intoxication: A Case Report and Review of the Literature



Details

  • Personal Author:
  • Description:
    Background: Zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP) has been used both as a screening and diagnostic test for overexposure to lead for nearly 30 years, although limitations for both purposes are recognized. Methods: We present longitudinal findings for ZPP and whole-blood lead in a man with two episodes of acute lead intoxication and review the literature on the use of ZPP. Results and conclusions: ZPP elevations in both chronic and acute exposure settings lag behind elevations in whole-blood lead by approximately 8<@150>12 weeks. Therefore, ZPP measurement, in conjunction with whole-blood lead determination, has clinical utility in cases of substantial overexposure by providing information on how long an individual may have been overexposed to lead. A guide to the interpretation of various combinations of whole-blood lead and ZPP results is provided. However, while ZPP levels do correlate with whole-blood lead measurements in aggregate, the considerable individual variability of ZPP measurements, poor sensitivity at lower ranges of lead exposure, poor specificity and delayed changes in unstable exposure conditions indicate that this test contributes little to screening programs. Finally, our results confirm that basophilic stippling is seen in acute as well as chronic lead intoxication, and may provide the first indication of lead intoxication. [Description provided by NIOSH]
  • Subjects:
  • Keywords:
  • ISSN:
    0962-7480
  • Document Type:
    Text
  • Funding:
    Grant
  • Genre:
    Journal Article
  • Place as Subject:
  • CIO:
    National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
  • Topic:
    Workplace Safety & Health
  • Location:
    North America
  • Volume:
    54
  • Issue:
    8
  • NIOSHTIC Number:
    nn:20055458
  • Citation:
    Occup Med 2004 Dec; 54(8):587-591
  • Contact Point Address:
    C. J. Martin, Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health, Department of Community Medicine, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
  • Email:
    cmartin@hsc.wvu.edu
  • CAS Registry Number:
    Lead (CAS RN 7439-92-1)
  • Federal Fiscal Year:
    2005
  • Performing Organization:
    West Virginia University, School of Medicine, Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health, Morgantown, West Virginia
  • Peer Reviewed:
    True
  • Start Date:
    19970701
  • Source Full Name:
    Occupational Medicine
  • End Date:
    20050630
  • Collection(s):
  • Main Document Checksum:
    urn:sha-512:7db4e294dcd0f0ad966416d32ddac2d28bddcf19dc357f5308ee796be61602480aebc5881796274e45205efb6c1476c7c08a7adcdef11080be186062bc8b545d
  • Download URL:
  • File Type:
    Filetype[PDF - 150.37 KB ]
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