EFFECT OF BLOOD-LEAD LEVEL ON THE KIDNEY FUNCTIONS OF RENAL TRANSPLANTED PATIENTS

Abstract

There is increasing evidence that health may be harmed by chronic exposure to lead present in the environment at levels insufficient to produce classical symptoms of lead poisoning. Chronic low level exposure to lead has been linked to a high incidence of renal dysfunction. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of environmental lead exposure on kidney functions, blood pressure (Bp), hemopioetic parameters in both renal transplanted recipients (RTxP) and normal volunteers. : Fiftyeight subjects were included in this study, 28 recipients and 30 healthy normal volunteers. A case report form was filled up for every participant. Blood lead level (BLL), serum (s.) creatinine, s. urea, s. uric acid, creatinine clearance (CrCl), hemoglobin% (Hb%), hematocrite (HCT), white (WBCs) and red (RBCs) blood cells were measured. Statistical analysis of the results indicated the following: RTxP had higher systolic and• diastolic Bp, s.uric acid, s.creatinine and s.urea levels and they had lower CrCI than the controls. Among normal control, there was a significant positive correlation between BLL and diastolic Bp. However, among recipient there was a significant positive correlation between BLL and both systolic and diastolic BP, and a positive significant correlation between BLL and WBCs and s.uric acid. On dividing recipients and controls according to BLL into high BLL group (BLL ;::: 40 !Jg I dl) and low BLL group (BLL < 40 !Jg/dl). Recipients with low BLL had significantly higher systolic and diastolic Bp, s. creatinine, s. urea and s. uric acid but they had lower CrCI than their respective controls . However, this significant difference was not observed between normal controls and recipients with BLL 2: 40 !Jg /dl and there was no significant difference observed regarding systolic blood pressure . In addition WBCs count in recipients with high BLL was significantly higher compared to that of normal control . Conclusions : (I) All studied subjects had BLL above the WHO recommended value of 15 !Jg /dl . (2) Renal transplanted recipients seem to be more vulnerable to the toxic effects of lead exposure . (3) s. uric acid and diastolic Bp are recommended as tests to detect early health deviation due to lead exposure.