Effect of succimer on growth of preschool children with moderate blood lead levels.
Growth deficits associated with lead exposure might be ameliorated by chelation. We examined the effect of succimer on growth in 780 children 12-33 months old who had blood lead levels of 20-44 microg/dL and were randomized to receive up to three 26-day courses of succimer or placebo in a multicenter, double-blind trial. The difference in changes in weight and height between succimer and placebo groups at 1-34 months was calculated by fitting cubic splines. The difference in height change in children on succimer compared with placebo was -0.27 cm [95% confidence interval (95% CI), -0.42 to -0.11] from baseline to 9 months, when 99% of children had completed treatment, and -0.43 cm (95% CI, -0.77 to -0.09) during 34 months of follow-up. Similar differences in weight gain were not statistically significant. Although succimer lowers blood lead in moderately lead-poisoned children, it does not have a beneficial effect on growth and may have an adverse effect.
Peterson
Karen E
KE
Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. kpeterso@hsph.harvard.edu
Salganik
Mikhail
M
Campbell
Carla
C
Rhoads
George G
GG
Rubin
Judith
J
Berger
Omer
O
Ware
James H
JH
Rogan
Walter
W
D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002657:Child Development; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006128:Growth / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D010919:Placebos; D004113:Succimer / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002614:Chelating Agents; D010919:Placebos; D004113:Succimer