Determination of blood lead level (BLL) in oral opium addict people and evaluation of its correlation with acute abdominal pain at cardiology ward of Bualisina hospital at Qazvin province (97-98)

Abstract Introduction: Substance abuse and its consequences are major health problems in Middle-East countries including Iran. Opium addiction is a common form of addiction in Iran. The country has a long border with Afghanistan which remains as the main producer of illicit opium in the world. Adulteration of opium with lead is a new source of lead poisoning in Iran in which the opium abuse is frequent and it could be a new health problem in the future. In this study, we evaluated the patients with oral opium use and assessed blood lead level (BLL) to elaborate its correlation with acute abdominal pain at Bu Ali Sina hospital affiliated with Qazvin University of Medical Sciences located in Qazvin, Iran. (97-98) Methods: This is a case-control study of 40 opium addict patients at Bualisina hospital at Qazvin province that have had chosen randomly (20 patient with abdominal pain & 20 without). We recorded their demographic information such as sex, age, duration of use. Also we recorded blood Hb levels, blood lead levels, retic count , basophilic stippling in PBS (with 5 cc vein blood sample). We also divided patients according to their Hb level into 2 groups: Anemic & non Anemic. Findings: First of all, we detected a negative significant correlation between abdominal pain and BLL (p=0.000,r=-0.6) Then, in divided groups (with or without abdominal pain), it didn’t show any significant correlation between BLL & the variables except Hb level. The analysis showed a negative significant correlation in group with abdominal pain. (p=0.000,r=-0.723) When we divided patients into Anemic & non anemic, the analysis showed a positive significant correlation between abdominal pain & BLL in anemic patients. Between the patients, we had people without abdominal pain and with high BLL. it was noticeable that what the cause of high BLL is. So we collected those with high BLL and evaluated the correlation of variables with BLL in 2 groups(with or without abdominal pain) for finding the factor that probably causes the high BLL. it showed a negative significant correlation just with Hb level in the group without abdominal pain.(p =0.01 , r=-79.0). Conclusion: First, raised BLL would increase the severity of abdominal pain among oral opium users, particularly in those who suffer anemia, Second, in those without abdominal pain & high BLL, Hb levels effect the BLL and increase it. So we should consider Hb levels and anemia in opium addicts and treat anemia to reach a better outcome of managing gastrointestinal symptoms in addicts with lead toxicity. Keywords: Oral opium, abdominal pain, BLL, Hb levels, anemi