Since 1985, more than 400 new cases of childhood lead poisoning were diagnosed in Paris, France. The resurgence of lead poisoning is a major public health concern.1,2 The treatment of these children with increased blood lead levels was consistent with the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, Ga,2-4 which recommend a lead mobilization test for patients with intermediate lead intoxication to determine which children would benefit from chelation therapy.
However, performing 24-hour provocative tests in young children has proved difficult: urine collection is often incomplete, and hospitalization is often necessary. The aim of our study was to decrease the urinary collection period of provocative tests to 5 hours and to assess the validity of this shortened procedure.
Patients and Methods. During a 17-month period between May 1989 and October 1990, 34 edetate calcium disodium (CaNa2 EDTA) mobilization tests were attempted in 32