Chelation therapy effectiveness

Although chelation therapy effectively reverses acute lead nephropathy and the preclinical renal dysfunction of occupational lead nephropathy, there is no evidence that such therapy reverses established interstitial nephritis due to lead. The partial remissions achieved among moonshiners and symptomatic lead workers may represent reversal of acute poisoning superimposed on chronic lead nephropathy. No improvement in renal function can be expected once ad-... 

Elaborate precautions must be taken to prevent the entrance of Pu iato the worker s body by ingestion, inhalation, or entry through the skin, because all common Pu isotopes except for Pu ate a-emitters. Pu is a P-emitter, but it decays to Am, which emits both (X- and y-rays. Acute intake of Pu, from ingestion or a wound, thus mandates prompt and aggressive medical intervention to remove as much Pu as possible before it deposits in the body. Subcutaneous deposition of plutonium from a puncture wound has been effectively controlled by prompt surgical excision followed by prolonged intravenous chelation therapy with diethylenetriaminepentaacetate (Ca " —DTPA) (171). 

The most successful up-to-date treatment of thalassemic patients is chelating therapy, which is based on patient s lifetime application of iron chelators. Removal of excess iron is supposed to be effective route for suppressing free radical-mediated damage. There is a great number of studies showing successful treatment of thalassemic patients with intravenous chelator desferal (desferrioxamine) and oral chelator deferiprone (LI). Biochemical studies show the efficacy of both chelators in removal of excess iron. For example, the incubation of thalassemic erythrocytes with 0.5 mmol 1 1 LI during 6h resulted in 96% removal of membrane-free iron [392], It was demonstrated that LI is able to remove pathologic deposits of... 

In conclusion, it appears that the toxicity of nickel and nickel compounds involves the binding of nickel ions to biological macromolecules. Chelation therapy appears to be effective both in reducing the body burden of nickel and interfering with the mechanism by which nickel exerts toxic effects by competing with the binding sites on biological molecules. 

Rogan WJ et al The effect of chelation therapy with succimer on neuropsychological development in children exposed to lead. N Engl J Med 2001 344 1421. [PMID 11346806]... 

However, dimercaptopropanol is not ideal for chelation therapy. It is unstable in aqueous solution and is easily oxidised so has to be injected intramuscularly as a solution in vegetable oil. This ensures its slow release into body tissues, making for more effective action, but it has a most objectionable odour. The injections are painful and frequently give rise to unpleasant local reactions. 

Hematological Effects. Hematological effects have not been observed in humans or animals with normal renal function. However, microcytic, hypochromatic anemia has been observed in individuals with impaired renal function. The anemia is unresponsive to iron therapy. The severity of the anemia correlates with plasma and erythrocyte aluminum levels and can be reversed by terminating aluminum exposure and chelation therapy with DFO. 

A systematic review of the literature aimed to assess the effectiveness of any type of complementary therapy for intermittent claudication revealed that there is no evidence of effectiveness of acupuncture, biofeedback therapy, chelation therapy, CO(2)-applications and the dietary supplements of Allium sativum (garlic), omega-3 fatty acids and Vitamin E (86). 

I began chelation therapy without questioning what harmful side effects this might have. I was so relieved to have a reason for my ills beyond it s all in your head when I knew something was physically wrong with me I chelated seven days a week year round as it was the only way to keep myself out of bed. I did not know at the time how damaging it was or how hard it was on my adrenals and liver. 

C. Hershko, G. Link, and A. M. Konijn, Cardioprotective Effect of Iron Chelators, in Iron Chelation Therapy , 1st edn., ed. C. Hershko, Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, New York, 2002, Vol. 509, p. 77. 

Manganese toxicity has been observed in miners exposed to high levels of Mn02 dust. The neurological symptoms mimic Parkinson s disease. Major changes were observed in the biogenic amines, dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA), and phenylalanine. Restoration of appropriate levels of these bioamines alleviated the symptoms. Chelation therapy has not been demonstrated as an effective strategy. ... 

Similar to the mustard agents, exposure prevention is the first line of defense against lewisite. Rapid decontamination is especially relevant to lewisite exposure due to the rapid development of pain (1-2 min) associated with lewisite exposure. Unlike other vesicants, an effective antidote for lewisite toxicity exists in the form of British anti-lewisite (BAL 2,3-dimercaptopropanol) which binds with arsenicals, thereby countering the lewisite-induced damage. Such chelation therapy is associated with notable side effects (e.g. renal effects) and requires carefiil medical management. More effective analogs of BAL have been developed with less significant side effects. 

---