PROBLEM OF THE PATHEOGENESIS OF POISONING BY TETRAETHYL LEAD

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000600300744-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 8, 2011
• Sequence Number: 744
• Publication Date: May 18, 1950
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 20
CLASSIFICATION SECRET SACHET
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY REPORT
INFORMATION FROM
FOREIGN DOCUMENTS OR RADIO BROADCASTS CD NO.
HOW
PUBLISHED
WHERE
PUBLISHED
DATE
PUBLISHED
Scientific - Toxicology
Monthly periodical
Moscow
Mar 1948
THIS DOCUMENT CONGINI INTOUITION AITICTINN TNI NATIONAL DIIINft
01 TXI UNITID ITATII NITNIN TNI 0 ANINO 0 II 110 NAII ACT tN
Y. SC )I AND It. AI AN III DI D. ITI TNANIN 1I11oN 011 TNI ItTICATI
O
DATE OF
INFORMATION
DATE DIST. //3' May 1950
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
PROBLEM OF THE PATHOGENESIS OF POISONING
BY TETRAETHYL LEAD
B. Ya. Rishan
A. N. Shogam
The authors conducted a study of cases poisoned by tetraethyl lead either
by inhalation of vapors or through the digestive tract. Those 1n the first
group indicated rapid reaction, and the basic symptoms were insomnia, hypaa-
gogic hallucinations, incubus, symptoms of fear and excitement to the point of
acute delirium, and collapse before death. Those in the second group indicated
syndromes differing according to their individual constitutional peculiarities,
age, etc., (for instance, prevalence of euphoria or hypochondria). Both groups
indicated predominantly a parasympathomimetic background. The blood pressure
was very low even in convalescents. Cerebral hypertonia as well as general hy-
pertonia were observed; the ratio of the pressure in the temporal artery and
the humoral artery was 0.8-1.14 instead of the usual 0.5.
The authors maintained that the difference in the course of the poisoning
in the two groups was due ..o the fact that the poison was absorbed at a slower
rate from the digestive tract and that it was rendered less harmful by the liv-
er. When inhaled, a greater quantity of the poison is absorbed at one time and
does not permit the liver to detoxicate the poison. A study of the blood in-
dicated that cholinesterase was considerably reduced, and acetylcholine was
found in all the cases. Although the reduction of cholinesterase can contribiiA
to the presence of acetylcholine, this does not always hold true. Therefore,
it was necessary to look for other causes of acetylcholinemia. The hepatopathic
condition of these cases can be the cause of acetyldholinemia because it re-
sults in the insufficient elimination of acetylcholine by this organ. Finally,
there is reason to believe that the poison directly affects the synapse, thus
disrupting the ratio of formation of acetylcholine and cholinesterase. The sur-
plus of acetylcholine apparently determines the parasympathomimetic background
''^ 'roxicatior.
c
CLASSIFICATION SECRET SEPRES
STATE NAVY 14 NSRB DISTRIBUTION -LH
ARMY AIR FBI
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/08: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600300744-2
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/08: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600300744-2
SECRET
The present report does not give an exhaustive coverage of the disrup-
tion of neuro-humoral processes during the poisoning by tetraethyl lead.
However, the authors believe that this report does show that in the therapy
of the above poisoning it is necessary not only to provide for the use of de-
toxicating agents, but also to take into consideration the matter of chemical
decomnensation which is directly concerned with the decreanc in the choline-
sterase.
SECRET
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/08: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600300744-2