Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41244251›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in pediatrics2025

Case Report: Severe lead poisoning due to exposure to ayurvedic herbal medicine.

Gabriella Cericola, Alexander Puzik, Sarah Salou, Ayami Yoshimi-Nöllke, Charlotte Niemeyer, Tobias Feuchtinger, Fred Henretig, Luke Yip, Siegfried Krell, Simone Hettmer

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PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in pediatrics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Gabriella CericolaDivision of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Children's Hospital, University Medical Center of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
Alexander PuzikDivision of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Children's Hospital, University Medical Center of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
Sarah SalouDivision of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Children's Hospital, University Medical Center of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
Ayami Yoshimi-NöllkeDivision of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Children's Hospital, University Medical Center of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
Charlotte NiemeyerDivision of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Children's Hospital, University Medical Center of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
Tobias FeuchtingerDivision of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Children's Hospital, University Medical Center of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
Fred HenretigDepartment of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
Luke YipNational Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States.
Siegfried KrellMedical Laboratory Bremen, MVZ, Bremen, Germany.
Simone HettmerDivision of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Children's Hospital, University Medical Center of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: Lead is an environmental toxin that may cause severe damage to vital organs including the brain, kidneys, liver, and bones. Children are particularly susceptible due to higher rates of gastrointestinal absorption and detrimental effects of lead on their developing nervous systems. Methods: This report highlights the case of a 4-year-old boy with severe lead poisoning resulting from prolonged exposure to ayurvedic herbal supplements. Results: The child was initially admitted with anemia, arterial hypertension, abdominal pain, and mild neurological impairment. His blood smear revealed pronounced basophilic stippling of erythrocytes. His venous blood lead level (BLL) was markedly elevated at 123 μg/dl. Detailed review of his history uncovered that he had been ingesting an ayurvedic herbal medicine for asthma. He received chelation therapy with 2,3-dimercapto-1-propanesulfonic acid and calcium disodium EDTA, resulting in rapid resolution of symptoms and gradually decreasing BLLs. Conclusions: The case is a striking example of the significant health risks due to heavy metal contamination in ayurveda products. Better strategies to control the composition of ayurvedic products and educate families about their possible heavy metal contamination are essential to reduce the risk of lead poisoning.

Indexed as

ayurvedic medicinechelation therapycomplementary and alternative medicineheavy metal toxicitylead poisoningpediatric environmental health

Identifiers

PMID41244251
PMCPMC12611801

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