title: Metal chelation therapy in rheumathoid arthritis: a case report. Successful management of rheumathoid arthritis by metal chelation therapy.
abstract: Toxic metals are involved in the pathogenesis of some neurodegenerative and vascular diseases and are known to impair the immune system functions. We report here the case of a patient affected by heavy metal intoxication, who had developed an autoimmune disease. There was evidence of aluminium, cadmium and lead intoxication in a 63-year old Italian woman affected by rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We treated the patient with calcium disodium edetate (EDTA) once a week for a year in order to remove traces of heavy metal intoxication. Oxidative status profile was carried out at the beginning and after 6 months' EDTA chelation. At the end of the treatment, the patient did not show any signs of metal intoxication, RA symptoms and oxidative status improved.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche, Università di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico, Mangiagalli, Regina Elena, Via F. Sforza 35, Milan, Italy. fbamonti@policlinico.mi.it
authors.forename: Fabrizia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bamonti
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fulgenzi
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Novembrino
authors.forename: Maria Elena
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Ferrero
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015913:Chelation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D019468:Disease Management; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000652:urine; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress
chemical_list: D002614:Chelating Agents; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D004492:Edetic Acid