title: Efficacy of dimercapto chelating agents for the treatment of poisoning by percutaneously applied dichloro(2-chlorovinyl)arsine in rabbits.
abstract: The efficacy of three chelating agents, BAL, DMPS and DMSA has been evaluated in rabbits as treatments for systemic dichloro(2-chlorovinyl)arsine [lewisite] poisoning by the percutaneous route. Chelating agent treatment reduced the incidence and severity of pathological liver changes following lewisite poisoning. There was no marked difference between the three chelating agents for protection against lethality when screened at an equimolar dose of 40 mumol kg-1. The results indicated DMPS and DMSA may prolong survival time compared with BAL. The low toxicity of DMPS and DMSA compared to BAL enabled doses of 160 mumol kg-1 on a more prolonged dosing schedule to be used for DMPS and DMSA. This schedule showed DMPS and DMSA to give a significant improvement in protection against the lethal effects of percutaneous lewisite compared to that of BAL. It was concluded that DMPS and DMSA have significant advantages over BAL for use as treatment for systemic lewisite poisoning.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Toxicology and Pathology Section, Chemical & Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK.
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Inns
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rice
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D020261:Arsenic Poisoning; D001152:Arsenicals / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D004112:Dimercaprol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D004113:Succimer / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D014494:Unithiol / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D001152:Arsenicals; D002614:Chelating Agents; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D004112:Dimercaprol; C035965:lewisite; D014494:Unithiol; D004113:Succimer