title: 2,3-Dimercaptosuccinic acid as an antidote for lead intoxication.
abstract: 2,3-Dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) is an orally effective drug more specific and with a wider therapeutic index than currently available drugs for lead intoxication. Eighteen men with elevated blood lead (BPb) concentrations received either 30, 20, or 10 mg/kg DMSA for 5 days in three divided daily doses. The mean BPb level decreased 72.5%, 58.3%, and 35.5% of the pretreatment values, with a simultaneous elevation in urinary Pb excretion. Clinical symptoms and biochemical indices of lead toxicity also improved. Red blood cell d-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity increased, while urinary excretion of d-aminolevulinic acid and coproporphyrin fell. DMSA was well tolerated; the only observed adverse drug reaction was a mild, transient elevation of serum SGPT levels in two subjects. DMSA appears promising and may greatly simplify the treatment of lead intoxication.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Graziano
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Siris
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: LoIacono
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Silverberg
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Turgeon
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid / Q000652:urine; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000623:Porphobilinogen Synthase / Q000097:blood; D011897:Random Allocation; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D004113:Succimer / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D007854:Lead; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid; D004113:Succimer; D000623:Porphobilinogen Synthase