[Lead and cardiopathy].

BACKGROUND

The studies dealing with the relationship between cardiovascular disease and exposure to environmental and occupational chemical risks are out-dated and insufficient. However, this is not true of studies on lead.

OBJECTIVES

This paper aims to investigate in particular the etiopathogenesis of the relationship between lead exposure and hypertension.

METHODS

The studies published in the last decade concerning both the general population and occupationally exposed subjects were reviewed.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

The effects due to high levels of exposure to lead are well known and have been studied for over a century. Knowledge on the chronic effects deriving from low and long-term exposure is still very controversial but is currently the most interesting topic; in particular lead hypertension is the topic of an increasing number of studies. Chronic exposure to low levels of lead can cause hypertension via several mechanisms. The most important are: oxidative stress associated with functional NO deficiency, elevation of sympathetic activity coupled with depressed vascular and increased renal beta receptor densities, activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, rise in endothelin production, reduction in vasodilatatory prostaglandins and elevation of vasoconstrictive prostaglandins.