Affiliations: The University of Texas Health Science Center at San
Antonio, Department of Pediatrics, San Antonio, TX, USA
Note: [] Corresponding author: Margarita M. Vasquez, MD, Department of
Pediatrics, University of Texas Health Science Center, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive,
MSC 7812, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, USA. Tel.: +1 210 567 5108; Fax: +1 210
567 5169; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Pica is a significant risk factor for lead exposure during pregnancy
and may often go unrecognized. Lead exposure in the pregnant woman may be
extremely toxic to the fetus due to unencumbered transport across the placenta.
Long term neurological effects of in utero and neonatal lead exposure are
largely unknown, and the efficacies of current therapies are controversial. We
report a case of a pregnant woman with elevated blood lead levels secondary to
pica that was not identified by a routine screening survey. Her full term baby
girl had a blood lead level of 70.8 μg/dL. Neonatal
therapy with double-volume exchange transfusion followed by a 3 day course of
intravenous Edetate Calcium Disodium is described as well as the slow steady
decline of her blood lead levels. Neurocognitive development to 18 months is
also reported.
