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Lead poisoning may cause irreversible health defects, including anaemia, central nervous system problems and various organ defects. We describe a patient with lead poisoning. A 54-year-old woman was admitted to hospital with anaemia and unspecific gastrointestinal symptoms. Peripheral blood smear and bone marrow aspirate showed basophilic stippling of erythrocytes suggestive of lead poisoning, which was confirmed by high concentrations of lead in her blood. The lead source was the glazing of a ceramic wine jug. Chelating therapy was started. Haemoglobin was normalised; the patient returned to work after nine months. Correct diagnosis and treatment can prevent serious health problems caused by lead poisoning.

Material and Methods: We present a review of the history, pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of lead poisoning based on relevant literature., Results and Interpretation: The human body does not metabolize lead, and lead accumulation may cause organ failure. Lead poisoning may cause serious health defects, including anaemia, central nervous system problems and various organ defects. Sources of lead may be found in the home as well as in the workplace or elsewhere in our environment, but lead poisoning is an infrequent condition. Prevention is important, but manifest lead poisoning can be treated effectively.

Background: Warfarin treatment of venous thromboembolism is the most frequent cause of reported serious and fatal adverse events associated with drug therapy in Norway. We assessed quality of treatment during transfer from hospital to community-based care., Material and Methods: 66 out of 100 consecutive patients with venous thromboembolism were studied by a retrospective survey that included data from hospital records and a questionnaire survey., Results: Time in therapeutic range was 57% during the first four weeks. Undertreatment was the most frequent deviation. Some patients reported a long time lag from INR measurement to dose prescription in community care; 42% did not receive written treatment information. There were six recurrences, but no serious or fatal bleeding complications during one year of observation. Patient satisfaction with information and treatment organisation was high., Interpretation: There is room for improvement of patient information and treatment quality in outpatient care in our area.

Background: Clinical studies over the last 20 years using more intensive cytostatic regimens show improved results in children and adolescents with aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and in adult patients specifically with Burkitt's lymphoma., Material and Methods: We present a retrospective analysis of the use of the Berlin-Frankfurt-Munster (BFM) regimen for patients older than 15 years from three Norwegian university hospitals during the 1992-99 period., Results: Survival data for 24 patients 15-69 years old with Burkitt's lymphoma/B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (B-ALL) show an estimated overall five year survival of 70% (75% for Burkitt's lymphoma only). Eight of ten adolescent patients 15-20 years old with other aggressive lymphomas were alive and disease free at last follow-up. All nine patients given the regimen after failure of prior therapy died of lymphoma within six years., Interpretation: The BFM regimen yields impressive results as the primary treatment of adolescent and adult patients with Burkitt's lymphomas/B-ALL.