Youroukos S, Lyberatos C, Philippidou A, Gardikas C, Tsomi A
Arch Environ Health. 1978 Nov-Dec;33(6):297-300. doi: 10.1080/00039896.1978.10667351.
In 60 children with mental retardation of unknown etiology, the whole blood lead, as well as the activity of the red cell delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (delta-ALAD), was measured. Thirty normal children and 30 with mental retardation of known etiology were used as controls. The lead values were found significantly higher in the study patients compared with both control groups (P less than 0.001). The delta-ALAD activity in the 14 patients with blood lead levels greater than or equal to 40 microgram/dl, was significantly reduced compared with the normal controls (P less than 0.001) and the mentally retarded controls (P less than 0.01). In more than 20% of the patients with mental retardation of unknown etiology, indications of significant exposure to lead were found. There was no difference in blood lead values between children from cities and those from rural areas. The possible role of lead in the etiology of mental retardation is discussed.
对60名病因不明的智力发育迟缓儿童测定了全血铅含量以及红细胞δ-氨基乙酰丙酸脱水酶（δ-ALAD）的活性。选取30名正常儿童和30名病因已知的智力发育迟缓儿童作为对照。研究发现，与两个对照组相比，研究对象的血铅值显著更高（P<0.001）。血铅水平大于或等于40微克/分升的14名患者的δ-ALAD活性与正常对照组（P<0.001）和智力发育迟缓对照组（P<0.01）相比显著降低。在超过20%病因不明的智力发育迟缓患者中发现了明显铅暴露的迹象。城市儿童和农村儿童的血铅值没有差异。讨论了铅在智力发育迟缓病因中的可能作用。
