title: [Chelating agents : alert to misuses!]
abstract: Exposure to heavy metals is a common phenomenon due to their prevalence in food and environment; their toxicity remains a major concern for public health. Chelating agents are drugs used to increase the elimination of metals present at abnormally high levels in the body. Their approved clinical indications are limited, particularly because of their potential adverse effects. Unfortunately, too often, chelating agents are used to test the body impregnation level by heavy metals. It is an inappropriate and abusive use. In order to attract attention to this problematic, the good and bad uses of metal chelators are reviewed.
authors.affiliation: , Service de Toxicologie Clinique, Médico-Légale, de l'Environnement et en Entreprise, CHU de Liège, Site du Sart Tilman, Liège, Belgique.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mistretta
authors.affiliation: , Service de Toxicologie Clinique, Médico-Légale, de l'Environnement et en Entreprise, CHU de Liège, Site du Sart Tilman, Liège, Belgique.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Charlier
mesh_terms: D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000076064:Drug Misuse / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018876:Environmental Illness / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000633:toxicity; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D002614:Chelating Agents; D019216:Metals, Heavy
keywords:  Intoxication;  Metals ; Chelating agent 