Lead poisoning

• History / PE:
  Abdominal pain
  Constipation
  Difficulty concentrating
  Fatigue
• Diagnosis:
  Basophilic stippling in RBCs (peripheral blood smear)
  Microcytic anemia
• Treatment:
  Exposure reduction
  EDTA
  Succimer
  
• Complications:
  Lead nephropathy
  Peripheral neuropathy
  
• Notes:
  In adults, think occupational exposure (car radiators, batteries, smelting, refining, paint)
  
  Basophilic stippling also seen in sideroblastic anemias ( vitamin B6 deficiency , ETOH)