An Amyotrophic lateral Sclerosis like symptoms associated with lead toxicity

Lead is a heavy metal that affects many organs such as nervous system, liver, and kidney. The most important affected organ is central nervous system. The present study reported a case similar to Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) due to lead exposure in an opium addicted person. The patient complaint was the weakness of upper and lower limbs in addition to the unsteadiness of gait. Nerve conduction studies showed normal sensory and motor action potential but needle electromyography showed fasciculation in distal and proximal muscles. The patient was encephalopathic and had psychiatric disorder. The blood lead level was also found to be higher than the normal upper limit. Hence, lead poisoning could occur in a patient addicted to opium with symptoms similar to ALS.