Sir,
I read the article by Shobha et al. with a great interest.[1] I agree that the five indexed cases do indeed have evidence of radial neuropathy. However, I have some concern whether the neuropathy is really the outcome of lead exposure or whether it is due to heavy usage of the wrists during work. Have the authors compared the findings in the patients with that in a matched control group from the same working place? Indeed, in a bigger series of lead poisoning cases from another developing country, the authors have considered this possibility in such kinds of neuropathy.[2]
References
- 1.Shobha N, Taly AB, Sinha S, Venkatesh T. Radial neuropathy due to occupational lead exposure: Phenotypic and electrophysiological characteristics of five patients. 2009;12:111–5. doi: 10.4103/0972-2327.53080. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 2.Wiwanitkit V, Suwansaksri J. Lead intoxication: a summary of the clinical presentation among Thai patients. Biometals. 2006 Aug Aug;19(4):345–8. doi: 10.1007/s10534-004-2994-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]