title: Chelation therapy in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We examined the effect of chelation therapy on cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  EDTA is a chelating agent that binds to metals including calcium and facilitates their excretion. Chelation with EDTA is recommended by some practitioners to treat CVD with the hypothesis that reducing calcium reduces atherosclerotic calcification of arteries. However, chelation therapy has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, and its effectiveness is unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched PubMed for English language articles addressing the effect of chelation therapy on CVD events. Articles pertinent to the topic were reviewed in detail.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified 128 articles addressing the therapeutic value of chelation therapy on CVD; 38 were reviewed in detail including 20 case series and 7 randomized controlled trials. Sixteen case series and 3 randomized controlled trials showed benefit with chelation. The Trial to Assess Chelation Therapy included 1708 post-myocardial infarction patients and demonstrated benefit with chelation therapy, but the Trial to Assess Chelation Therapy investigators concluded that their results did not support the routine use of chelation therapy for post-myocardial infarction patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The effectiveness of chelation therapy in reducing recurrent CVD events is unclear, but possible, and warrants additional, carefully designed clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Awais
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ibad
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Rabia
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Khalid
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT, USA. Electronic address: Paul.Thompson@hhchealth.org.
authors.forename: Paul D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015913:Chelation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D002614:Chelating Agents; D004492:Edetic Acid
keywords: Cardiovascular disease prevention; Cardiovascular disease treatment; Cardiovascular diseases; Chelation therapy; Coronary artery disease; EDTA; Intermittent claudication; Peripheral artery disease