A case of sideroblastic anemia caused by lead-containing herbal medication

Although lead intoxication is commonly mentioned as a cause of sideroblastic anemia, no well-documented case exists in the literature. We encountered a patient with sideroblastic anemia caused by lead-containing herbal medicine. A 34-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with abdominal pain. She had taken herbal medicine for her general health. Anemia, hyperbilirubinemia, and elevated lactic dehydrogenase were found from the laboratory data. Bone marrow biopsy showed pathological ringed sideroblasts. Her serum level of lead was high and the lead content of the tablet was higher than permitted. We diagnosed her with sideroblastic anemia secondary to lead poisoning caused by herbal medicine. We stopped her from taking herbal medicine and she gradually recovered from anemia.