Cardiovascular actions of lead and relationship to hypertension: a review

Journal Article · Wed Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.887891· OSTI ID:6460702

Kopp, S J; Barron, J T; Tow, J P

Chronic and acute lead poisoning cause overt, clinical symptoms of cardiac and vascular damage with potentially lethal consequences. Morphological, biochemical, and functional derangements of the heart have all been described in patients following exposure to excessive lead levels. Disturbances in cardiac electrical and mechanical activity and postmortem evidence of morphological and biochemical derangements of the myocardium have all been reported following excessive exposure to lead in humans. In addition, signs of vascular degeneration, abnormal vascular smooth muscle function, and altered vessel compliance have been described in humans chronically and acutely exposed to toxic lead levels. Similar cardiovascular complications have been detected following excessive lead exposure in experimental animals. Myocarditis, electrocardiographic disturbances, heightened catecholamine arrhythmogenicity, altered myocardial contractile responsiveness to inotropic stimulation, degenerative structural biochemical changes affecting the musculature of the heart and vasculature, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, atherosclerosis, and increased vascular reactivity to ..cap alpha..-adrenergic agonists have been among the reported cardiovascular disturbances linked to lead poisoning. Although controversial, chronic low-level lead exposure has been linked to hypertension and other cardiovascular disturbances in both clinical and experimental studies. In general, it can be concluded that lead over a wide range of exposure intensities can induce significant changes in the function of the cardiovascular system.

• Research Organization: Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, IL (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6460702
• Journal Information: Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States) Vol. 78; ISSN EVHPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ADRENAL HORMONES
AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM AGENTS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CARDIOTONICS
CARDIOVASCULAR AGENTS
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
DISEASES
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
DRUGS
HYPERTENSION
LEAD COMPOUNDS
NEUROREGULATORS
NORADRENALINE
PATHOGENESIS
PATIENTS
SYMPATHOMIMETICS
SYMPTOMS
VASCULAR DISEASES