OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO LEAD - PRELIMINARY-OBSERVATIONS IN PAGETS-DISEASE OF BONE IN WOMEN AND IN FAMILY MEMBERS OF AFFECTED PATIENTS

The purpose of this study is to report preliminary observations of an association between occupational exposure to lead and Paget's disease of bone in women and in family members of patients with Paget's diseas e. Life-long histories of the occupational or environmental exposure t o toxins were obtained from six women with Paget's disease and from si x family members of other previously studied patients with this diseas e. Independent occupational histories were obtained by both a register ed nurse and a physician. By obtaining detailed occupational histories in the same manner as for male patients [Spencer et al.: J Lab Clin M ed 120: 798, 1992], the association between lead exposure and Paget's disease became apparent in women with the disease and in affected fami ly members. Although the number of subjects is small, the observation of the association of occupational lead exposure suggests that lead ma y also play a role in the pathogenesis of Paget's disease in women. Hi stories of lead exposure in five out of six affected family members of previously studied male patients with Paget's disease further increas e the possibility that lead plays a role in the etiology of this disea se. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.