Treatment Options for Lead Poisoning Victims
Lead Poisoning treatments depend on the blood lead levels. Outlined below are recommendations for varying elevated blood lead levels and appropriate treatment responses.
Recommended Blood Lead Level µg/dL (microgram per deciliter of Blood) Treatments
Below 10 µg/dL Blood Lead Level Anticipatory Guidance to
Family, Caregivers and Educators
10-14 µg/dL Blood Lead Level Gather evaluation of nutrition & history of lead-exposure. Repeat test after 3 months have passed.
15-19 µg/dL Blood Lead Level Guidance, evaluation of nutrition
& History of lead-exposure. Repeat tests in 1 or 2 months. Blood
Test Hematocrit/Hemoglobin (hgb/hct). Treat persistent elevated
levels of 15-19 µg/dL as recommended for 20-44 µg/dL.
20-44 µg/dL Blood Lead Level Guidance, evaluation of nutrition
& history of lead-exposure, neurodevelopment & psychosocial development.
Public health case management referral & investigation of residence
environment factors. Depending on elevated blood lead level, retest
in 1 week to 1 month. Order Blood Test Hematocrit/Hemoglobin (hgb/hct).
45-69 µg/dL Blood Lead Level Guidance, evaluation of nutrition
& lead-exposure, history of psychosocial & neurodevelopment factors.
Referral to public health. Repeat tests for elevated levels of 45-59
µg/dL within 48 hours and elevated levels of 60-69 µg/dL within
24 hours. Order Hematocrit/Hemoglobin (hgb/hct). Consider chelation
therapy.
70 & above µg/dL Blood Lead Level Medical emergency. Immediately
hospitalize, retest, & chelate. Public health referral, as above.
Chelation therapy treatment for severe lead poisoning has been used for 40 years as an approved option by the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration.) It involves the injection of ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), which binds to lead in the body and then removed from the body by the kidneys. From the Greek chele, meaning ‘claw’, the term chelation refers to the chemical attraction and binding to lead within the body.
Chelation therapy is performed and administered through an IV while the patient relaxes in a chair. Many patients experience depletion of vitamins and minerals essential to the body as it flushes out toxic lead. Therefore it is often necessary to take supplements during treatment to replenish those vitamins and minerals.
Chelation usually takes ten to twelve weeks of therapy (longer in severe cases). After successful sessions, the elevated blood lead level will drop dramatically as ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) cleans the blood and soft tissues of the lead deposits. Sometimes the lead levels can rebound almost 70% as the lead stored in the bones transfers back into the soft tissues and blood.
There are often side effects of chelation therapy, including decreased appetite and low energy. Chelation may also be accomplished by the use of an oral chelating agent (Pills) such as Succimer.
Removing the child from the source of lead exposure dramatically increases the success of chelation therapy. Environmental intervention, developmental referrals, medical treatment, and follow-up care are all essential components in a healthy treatment plan. Discussing your child’s complete care and treatment with your doctor is very important.
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