Erythrocyte protoporphyrin IX as a diagnostic and therapy evaluating tool in lead poisoning.

After lead poisoning was confirmed in nine adult males industrially exposed to lead dusts, therapy was instituted with oral penicillamine. Several laboratory examinations confirmed diagnosis, and also monitored the efficiency of penicillamine therapy. This study sought to investigate the usefulness of protoporphyrin determination in erythrocytes as a tool in diagnostic and therapy-evaluating studies. This determination seems to be a good clinical aid in diagnosis, but is a poor monitor to project eventual recovery of lead-poisoned patients in short-term studies.