Findings published today in the Association for Diagnostics
& Laboratory Medicine's (formerly AACC's) Clinical
Chemistry journal
WASHINGTON, May 6, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- To this day, no one knows for certain what
caused the liver and kidney disease that led to Ludwig van
Beethoven's untimely death. However, a new letter to the editor in
the Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine's
(ADLM's, formerly AACC's) journal Clinical Chemistry rules
out one popular theory, showing that the composer was exposed to
lead levels that were high — but not high enough to kill him.
View the full study here:
https://doi.org/10.1093/clinchem/hvae054
Over the course of his lifetime, Beethoven experienced a slew of
health problems, including gastrointestinal issues and hearing
loss, in addition to the aforementioned liver and kidney disease.
High lead levels are commonly associated with all of these
conditions — and are also associated with other traits of
Beethoven's, such as his infamous temper, memory lapses, and
chronic clumsiness. So when researchers analyzed a lock of hair in
2000 that was thought to be Beethoven's and found that it contained
extremely high lead levels, the natural conclusion for some was
that lead poisoning caused the composer's health issues and death.
However, further studies eventually found that that lock of hair
belonged to a woman, not Beethoven.
Then in 2023, several locks of Beethoven's hair were
authenticated as part of a landmark study that reported the
sequencing of the composer's genome. A group of laboratory medicine
experts led by Nader Rifai, PhD, of
Harvard Medical School, have now
performed a toxin analysis on two of these locks, which are known
as the Bermann and Halm-Thayer Locks. Rifai's group analyzed the
locks for lead using two different versions of a highly accurate
testing technique known as mass spectrometry.
What they found was that the Bermann Lock has a lead
concentration 64 times the normal amount, while the Halm-Thayer
Lock has a lead concentration 95 times greater than the normal
amount. From this, the researchers were able to estimate that
Beethoven's blood lead concentration would have been 69 to 71
µg/dL. This is several times higher than a normal blood lead level
for adults, but not high enough to be considered the sole cause of
his death.
"While the concentrations determined are not supportive of the
notion that lead exposure caused Beethoven's death, it may have
contributed to the documented ailments that plagued him most of his
life," said Rifai. "We believe this is an important piece of a
complex puzzle and will enable historians, physicians, and
scientists to better understand the medical history of the great
composer."
About the Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory
Medicine (ADLM)
Dedicated to achieving better health through laboratory
medicine, ADLM (formerly AACC) brings together more than 70,000
clinical laboratory professionals, physicians, research scientists,
and business leaders from around the world focused on clinical
chemistry, molecular diagnostics, mass spectrometry, translational
medicine, lab management, and other areas of progressing laboratory
science. Since 1948, ADLM has worked to advance the common
interests of the field, providing programs that advance scientific
collaboration, knowledge, expertise, and innovation. For more
information, visit www.myadlm.org.
Clinical Chemistry (clinchem.org) is the leading international
journal of laboratory medicine, featuring nearly 400 peer-reviewed
studies every year that help patients get accurate diagnoses and
essential care. This vital research is advancing areas of
healthcare ranging from genetic testing and drug monitoring to
pediatrics and appropriate test utilization.
Christine DeLong
ADLM
Associate Director, Communications & PR
(p) 202.835.8722
cdelong@myadlm.org
Molly Polen
ADLM
Senior Director, Communications & PR
(p) 202.420.7612
(c) 703.598.0472
mpolen@myadlm.org
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SOURCE Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine
(ADLM)