Metal excretion and magnesium retention in patients with intermittent claudication treated with intravenous disodium EDTA.
Sixty patients with intermittent claudication participated in a double-blind placebo-controlled trial of 20 courses of intravenous chelation therapy with 3 g of disodium EDTA vs placebo during 5-9 weeks. After the first infusion, the 24-h urinary excretion of lead and zinc was approximately 25-fold higher in the EDTA-treated group; relative differences for copper and calcium were smaller. Urinary magnesium excretion in the EDTA-treated group was one-third less than in the control group. After the treatment period, the blood lead concentration had decreased by approximately 73% and the serum zinc concentration by approximately 34%; other changes in blood concentrations were negligible. The loss of essential minerals and the possible redistribution of lead in the body may constitute a disadvantage that should be taken into account in repeated intravenous EDTA treatment.
Guldager
B
B
Department of Surgery, Hillerød Hospital, Denmark.
Jørgensen
P J
PJ
Grandjean
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002118:Calcium / Q000652:urine; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D008628:Mercury / Q000097:blood; D008670:Metals / Q000652:urine*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine
D008670:Metals; D010919:Placebos; D007854:Lead; D003300:Copper; D004492:Edetic Acid; D008628:Mercury; D008274:Magnesium; D015032:Zinc; D002118:Calcium