A 60-year-old woman suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and taking methotrexate was admitted with recurrent episodes of nausea, vomiting, constipation, loss of appetite, myalgia and backache, sternal chest pain, costal and jaw pain. On examination the epigastrium was tender to palpation and nonrigid.
Laboratory tests showed normocytic anemia (with a hemoglobin concentration of 8.6 g/dl), elevated blood urea and creatinine levels, hyponatremia, hypochloremia, hemolysis and polychromasia, anisocytosis, poikilocytosis and basophilic stippling of several red cells. On gastroscopy an ulcer was excluded, ultrasound scan of abdomen, X-ray of chest and pelvis showed no abnormalities. The electrocardiogram showed a right bundle branch block and left anterior hemiblock.
In the differential diagnosis of anemia with basophilic stippling and abdominal discomfort, lead poisoning was found. Whole-blood lead concentration was markedly raised to 852 micro g/l (normal < 100 micro g/l). Lead poisoning was the result of the use of ayurvedic drugs during a period of 7.5 months prior to admission to the authors' hospital.
Heavy metal poisoning, especially lead poisoning, should be considered in the differential diagnosis in patients with unspecific clinical symptoms taking traditional Indian remedies.