Session Information
Date: Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Session Title: Ataxia
Session Time: 12:00pm-1:30pm
Location: Exhibit Hall located in Hall B, Level 2
Objective: To elucidate (1) whether prolonged effects of lead exposure are persistently reflected by impaired neurological parameters and (2) whether these outcomes can be attributed to previously assessed blood lead levels.
Background: Toxic lead exposure is associated with peripheral neuropathy and coordination impairment. In contrast to western countries, industrial lead pollution ceased in Peru only a decade ago. In Peruvian children, it is unknown whether previous lead pollution, from 10 years ago, still induces neurologic impairment. We therefore investigated the neurologic effects of previous pediatric lead exposure in Peruvian subjects.
Methods: We compared vibration sensation, reflexes and Scale Assessment for Rating Ataxia (SARA) outcomes in subjects from (1) La Oroya, Peru, an industrial lead-polluted city (n=48; mean age 15.2y; range 8-31y); (2) Concepcion, Peru, an adjacent city of comparable socioeconomic status (n=42; mean age 14.7y; range 8-31y); and (3) Groningen, the Netherlands, a non-polluted city of higher socio-economic status (n=36; mean age 12.3y; range 8-16y).
Results: Previous blood lead levels (from 10 years ago) were available in 14 participating subjects (La Oroya n=4/48; Concepcion n=10/42). Toxic concentrations (> 5 μg/dL) were revealed in all (n=14/14). Vibration sensation of both first metacarpals and metatarsals were decreased in 59/90 and 44/90 Peruvians, respectively (La Oroya: 29/48 and 24/48 vs Concepcion: 30/42 and 20/42, respectively). Comparing Peruvian (La Oroya and Concepcion) and Dutch (Groningen) age-matched subjects revealed higher (worse) total and kinetic SARA outcomes in the Peruvian group (mean differences .26 and .29, respectively; p<0.001 ; mean La Oroya: .60 and .50 vs. Concepcion: .61 and .53, respectively).
Conclusions: 10 years after toxic pediatric lead exposure, Peruvians still revealed neurologic impairment. Although socio-economic status may have contributed to these results, stratification did not substantiate this.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
N.T. Boyd, M.J. Kuiper, R. Brandsma, T.F. Lawerman, R.J. Lunsing, F. Serrano, C. Olivera, D.A. Sival. Long-term impact of lead poisoning on neurologic function in children and adolescents [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2016; 31 (suppl 2). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/long-term-impact-of-lead-poisoning-on-neurologic-function-in-children-and-adolescents/. Accessed June 14, 2025.« Back to 2016 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/long-term-impact-of-lead-poisoning-on-neurologic-function-in-children-and-adolescents/