HEAVY METAL LEVELS and DELTA-AMINO-LEVULINIC ACID DEHYDRASE LEVELS IN PERIPHERAL POLYNEUROPATHY

Abstract

On the basis of assay of heavy metals in whole blood (lead, cadimum, chromium, copper, nickel and manganese) and delta-amino-levulinic-acid dehydrase (ALA-D) and ALA in urine in a normal Danish population, the levels of these clinco-chemical factors were assayed in 23 patients with peripheral neuropathy of unknown etiology. All patients studied showed electro-physiological sign of denervation and/or reduced motor or sensoric nerve conduction velocity. Cadmium and manganese were never found to be increased. In all but four patients, an increase of one or more heavy metals was found. Ten patients showed raised levels of two or more metals, the dominant metal being lead (10 cases), nine patients showed increased in chromium. A significant corrleation was found between increasing lead levels and decreasing ALA-D activity. Although normal concentrations of manganese were found, correlation analysis revealed a significant correlation between increased manganese and decreased ALA-D. The raised values of heavy metals could not be traced to occupational or other exposure to heavy metals and the increased values were not related to tobacco consumption. The findings are discussed in relation to known data on neuropathy and the results seem to indicate a multifactorial patholgenesis of the disease. Among factors contributing to the precipitation of the syndrome may be raised levels of heavy metals.

Heavy metal pollution among autoworkers. II. Cadmium, chromium, copper, manganese, and nickel.

“…Heavy metal levels in individual control subjects have been reported previously (Melgaard et al, 1976a).…”

“…Heavy metals in particulate air samples and in whole blood were determined by flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry (Melgaard et al, 1976a). Dust and oil samples treated with an acid mixture for analysis of lead were used for determination of the other heavy metals (Clausen and Rastogi, 1977).…”

Possíveis efeitos do cobre sanguíneo sobre parâmetros hematológicos em idosas

“…A inibição da ALA-D por diferentes metais é bem descrita na literatura tanto in vitro quanto in vivo (1,23,35) . Particularmente para o cobre, desde 1977 (42) já é reportada ação inibitória sobre a atividade da ALA-D in vivo.…”