[Increase of blood lead in alcoholism. Relation with blood pressure]

Abstract

Blood lead levels and blood pressure were measured on admission in 161 chronic alcoholic patients (121 men and 40 women) hospitalized for detoxification. The mean lead level was 280 micrograms/l and the highest value, in one patient, was 725 micrograms/l. These figures were as high as those of subjects under occupational exposure to lead. Blood lead level was correlated with blood pressure, and the statistical correlation appeared to be independent. Blood lead level was also correlated with serum gamma-glutamyl-transferase concentration and with the mean corpuscular volume. Wine drinkers had higher blood lead level than beer and/or liquor drinkers (mean: 298 micrograms/l versus 225 micrograms/l respectively), which fits with the higher lead content of wine.