title: Chelation therapy after the trial to assess chelation therapy: results of a unique trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  EDTA chelation therapy has been in off-label use for the treatment of atherosclerosis. We review the results of the first large-scale randomized trial of this treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The trial to assess chelation therapy was a $30 million National Institutes of Health-funded study of the safety and efficacy of EDTA-based chelation infusions in 1708 post-myocardial infarction (MI) patients. The trial to assess chelation therapy demonstrated a significant (P=0.035) 18% reduction in a combined primary endpoint of death, MI, stroke, coronary revascularization, or hospitalization for angina. In diabetic patients the benefit was more extreme, with a 41% relative reduction in risk (P=0.0002) and a 43% reduction in total mortality (P=0.011). Safety data were favorable. A reduction of oxidative stress by chelation of toxic metals has been proposed as a possible mechanism of action.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recent research suggests that EDTA chelation may be a well-tolerated and effective treatment for post-MI patients. Future replication and mechanistic studies are important prior to implementation in all post-MI patients.
authors.affiliation: Columbia University Division of Cardiology, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Miami Beach, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Maria D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Avila
authors.forename: Esteban
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Escolar
authors.forename: Gervasio A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Lamas
mesh_terms: D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D015913:Chelation Therapy; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
chemical_list: D004492:Edetic Acid