Urinary excretion of trace elements in humans after sodium 2,3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulfonate challenge test.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of intravenous sodium 2,3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulfonate (DMPS, Dimaval) on urinary excretion of essential trace elements in subjects who received this chelating agent as a mercury challenge test.


METHODS
Eleven subjects sought medical attention due to concern with the toxicity of mercury released from dental amalgam fillings.


METHODS
The subjects were given DMPS 3 mg/kg intravenously. Spot urine samples were collected 1 hour before and 1 hour after the DMPS dose for laboratory analysis. In addition to mercury, the urinary excretion of copper, zinc, selenium, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, chromium, cobalt, and aluminum were measured.


RESULTS
A significant increase in urinary excretion of mercury (3- to 107-fold) was observed after the DMPS dose. The DMPS treatment led to a 2- to 119-fold increase in copper excretion; 3- to 43.8-fold in selenium excretion; 1.6- to 44-fold in zinc excretion; and 1.75- to 42.7-fold in magnesium excretion. The excretion of manganese, chromium, cobalt, aluminium, and molybdenum remained unchanged.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study, an intravenous DMPS challenge test produced a significant increase in mercury excretion and also led to an increased excretion of copper, selenium, zinc, and magnesium.
Torres-Alanís
O
O
Centro Antivenenos, Departamento de Farmacología y Toxicología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey Nuevo León, México. otorres@ccr.dsi.uanl.mx
Garza-Ocañas
L
L
Bernal
M A
MA
Piñeyro-López
A
A
D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003723:Dental Amalgam; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000652:urine*; D008630:Mercury Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis; D008670:Metals / Q000652:urine*; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000652:urine*; D014494:Unithiol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*
D002614:Chelating Agents; D008670:Metals; D014131:Trace Elements; D014494:Unithiol; D003723:Dental Amalgam; D008628:Mercury