Neonatal lead poisoning from maternal pica behavior during pregnancy

Lead toxicity has gained increasing attention in the public media because o f its ubiquitous distribution in the environment and the potentially seriou s medical complications that it can induce, particularly in children. We pr esent a case of an asymptomatic Hispanic woman who exhibited a unique form of pica during her pregnancy. By serendipity, she agreed to enroll into a l ead screening study at our medical center when she presented to deliver her child. Her blood lead level was 119.4 mug/dL at delivery, and simultaneous measurement of the neonate's cord blood lead level was 113.6 mug/dL. The i nfant underwent an exchange transfusion, and the mother was treated with or al 2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid. Both demonstrated dramatic biochemical impr ovement.