Dilated cardiomyopathy and left bundle branch block associated with ingestion of colloidal gold and silver is reversed by British antiLewisite and vitamin E: the potential toxicity of metals used as health supplements.
A case of left bundle branch block and a dilated, nonhypertrophic cardiomyopathy associated with ingestion of colloidal gold and silver as an 'energy tonic' is described. The cardiac disease was reversed within two months by a course of dimercaprol (Akorn Inc, USA) (British antiLewisite) and vitamin E. This is the first case of gold and silver cardiomyopathy in humans, and highlights the risks of these colloidal metal 'health supplements'.
Archer
Stephen Lawrence
SL
Section of Cardiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA. sarcher@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu
D000328:Adult; D002037:Bundle-Branch Block / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000009:adverse effects; D004112:Dimercaprol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D017979:Gold Colloid / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D012834:Silver / Q000009:adverse effects*; D024505:Tocopherols / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D002614:Chelating Agents; D017979:Gold Colloid; D004112:Dimercaprol; D012834:Silver; D024505:Tocopherols