Chelation therapy involves the use of specific chemical substances to remove unwanted metals from the bloodstream. Chelation is often a first-line treatment in cases of exposure to toxic levels of "heavy" metals including mercury, lead, iron, uranium and others. Some people have used chelation as an alternative medicinal method for various forms of body "cleansing," but its use in these applications is controversial and not widely supported.
There are many chelating agents, including those described below; their power and potential for side effects necessitates their administration by a qualified professional.
EDTA
EDTA is the abbreviation for ethylenediaminetetraacetate, probably the best-known chelating agent. The word "chelation" is based on the Greek root of the word for "claw," and the EDTA molecule indeed forms claw-shaped molecular bonds with metal atoms. The bonded EDTA-metal compound is then excreted from the body in urine. The FDA has approved EDTA as a treatment for lead poisoning and sometimes in the treatment of other heavy metal poisonings, including arsenic, calcium and others.
Some research in the 1960s suggested that EDTA might be effective at dissolving atherosclerotic plaques from interior artery walls, but subsequent studies failed to bear this out. The American Heart Association today rejects EDTA chelation as a valid therapy for atherosclerosis, and most medical bodies consider such use investigational at best.
EDTA is known to reduce available blood calcium and other nutrients, requiring careful monitoring of patient health.
Defrasirox
Defrasirox (also known by its brand name Exjade) is a chelating agent for the treatment of acute iron toxicity or poisoning. Anemic patients who are receiving iron transfusions sometimes use it as well.
DTPA
DTPA, also known as pentetic acid, is for the emergency treatment of contamination with transuranic metals; those elements on the periodic table with an atomic number greater than 92. DTPA comes in two forms, based on calcium (Ca) or zinc (Zn). Ca-DTPA is considered far more effective than Zn-DTPA within the first 24 hours after metal exposure. Zn-DTPA is believed to have less risk of side effects for long-term treatment.
DTPA helps remove radioactive metals, but cannot reverse or prevent actual radiation injury caused by the metals while in the body. Your doctor can also administer DTPA in a nebulized form to treat exposure by inhalation.
Penicillamine
Penicillamine (also known as Cuprimine or Depen) is a chelating agent that fights copper toxicity in cases of acute exposure or conditions such as Wilson's disease. It may also be employed in the chelation of other heavy metals, and can also be effective in preventing the formation of certain types of kidney stones based on cystine (cystinuria).
Succimer
Succimer, also known as DMSA, is a lead chelator indicated for treatment of lead poisoning, specifically in children. A course of Succimer chelation therapy may involve several cycles of on-and-off administration based on monitoring of blood lead concentrations.
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