DMPS chelation therapy

Related Terms

2,3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulfonate, British Anti-Lewisite (BAL), calcium disodium ethylenediamine tetra acetic acid (CaNa2EDTA), chelating agents, chelation, chromium, cobalt, Dimaval, dimercaptosuccinate, DMPS, DMSA chelation, D-penicillamine (DPA), EDTA, ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid,, heavy metal toxicity, lead, lead toxicity, mercury, mercury toxicity, meso 2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA), metal intoxication, metal poisoning, N-acetyl-D-penicillamine (NAPA), unithiol.

Background

During chelation therapy, chemical compounds and proteins are injected into the blood to treat conditions such as lead toxicity.
Chelation therapy with 2,3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulfonate (DMPS) has been used to treat acute and chronic heavy metal poisoning. It is thought to work by forming an insoluble complex with the metal that is firmly bound to intracellular sites.
Heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury may induce toxic effects in humans due to an imbalance between pro-oxidant and antioxidant homeostasis, termed oxidative stress. Long-term exposure to heavy metals affects normal cellular defense mechanisms and eventually causes apoptosis (cell death). Heavy metals, such as lead and arsenic, interfere with the normal functioning of the central nervous system, hematopoietic system, liver, and kidneys.
Although scientific evidence for effective heavy metal toxicity treatment is not adequate, chelation therapy with chelating agents, such as DMPS and ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA), is considered the best-known treatment for metal poisoning or toxicity.
Both oral and parenteral forms of the substance are available in Europe, but DMPS is only approved in the United States as a bulk chemical. It must be compounded by a pharmacist at the request of the prescribing physician and given as a slow intravenous push. EDTA is another substance used for chelation therapy. EDTA has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating lead poisoning and poisoning from other heavy metals.
Meso 2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) is another substance used for chelation therapy. According to secondary sources, it has been extensively used in children. Secondary sources suggest that autistic children who received treatment with DMSA for mercury poisoning exhibited marked improvement in their behavioral and cognizant statuses. However, more studies are needed to support these claims.
Agents such as DMPS or DMSA are used in some countries to treat patients with symptoms that are attributed to mercury-containing dental amalgams and in children with autism.
Animal studies suggest that metal toxicity and chelation effects may be influenced by age, which may affect the design of chelation protocols for metal toxicity.

Theory / Evidence

Heavy metal toxicity: Chelation therapy with 2,3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulfonate (DMPS) has been used to treat acute and chronic heavy metal poisoning. It is thought to work by forming an insoluble complex with the metal that is firmly bound to intracellular sites.
Arsenic poisoning:Early human evidence suggests that DMPS chelation may help treat arsenic poisoning.
Bismuth poisoning: In a case report, bismuth iodoform paraffin paste (BIPP), used for packing wounds and surgical cavities, resulted in neurological features of bismuth toxicity. After 27 days of intravenous DMPS chelation therapy followed by 24 days of DMPS taken by mouth, symptoms improved and serum and urine concentrations of bismuth decreased.
Cobalt poisoning: Authors of a case report note that chelation therapy with DMPS, ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA), or British Anti-Lewisite (BAL) is a treatment option for chronic cobalt poisoning.
Lead poisoning:DMPS chelation therapy has been used to treat lead poisoning in children. Other chelating agents structurally related to DMPS have been used for lead poisoning in adults following renovation of older homes with lead-based paint and were found to decrease lead levels steadily over several months.
Mercury intoxication: Evidence from small studies and case reports suggest that DMPS chelation therapy may be beneficial for mercury poisoning. However, additional research is warranted.
In a case study, chelation therapy led to considerable clinical improvement of elemental mercury intoxication based on decreased urinary mercury concentration and normalization of electroencephalogram (EEG).
In a controlled study, five patients with long-lasting mercury poisoning showed significant decreases in blood, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid mercury levels after chelation therapy with DMPS.
A study observing the clinical effectiveness of DMPS on the urinary excretion of mercury in 10 occupationally exposed men demonstrated significantly increased mean urine mercury. DMPS was also found to effectively increase urine mercury after treating patients who had chronically applied mercury-containing cream to their skin.
A case report noted the successful use of chelation therapy using DMPS for severe mercury poisoning in combination with continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) for kidney support.
A study examining the prognosis of mercury poisoning in mercury refinery workers after removal of exposure and chelation treatment with DMPS demonstrated a reduction in urine mercury and some symptoms, but not in neurological and stomal signs.
In an observational study, DMPS chelation treatment was found to be superior to dimercaptosuccinate (DMS) chelation treatment when there was an elevated urinary mercury level.
In a study observing mercury exposure's effect on a hematological marker, selenoprotein P (Sel-P), DMPS treatment showed no significant decrease.
A case report on thiomersal poisoning determined that DMPS did not substantially influence mercury concentration in blood, urine, or kidney clearance of mercury.
One pharmacology study studied the complexes of mercury and chelating agents (such as DMPS) and concluded that the partition coefficient of the complexes helps explain redistribution of mercury upon administration of antidotes.
In a case study, the use of DMPS plus steroids resulted in full resolution of mercury-induced nephrotic syndrome within six weeks.
Zinc and selenium have been shown to have protective effects against mercury toxicity. However, some evidence suggests that combining zinc or selenium with dithiol chelation agents (such as DMPS) may be counterproductive.
Deliberate metallic mercury injection: Deliberate injection (IV or SC) of metallic mercury is a rare event but has been noted in psychiatric patients, individuals attempting suicide, and as accidental events. In a case report involving a patient who deliberately self-injected with metallic mercury, the course of kidney elimination of mercury, whole blood concentration, and time-course of mercury in the hair was monitored during a five-month treatment period with chelation therapy with DMPS.
In another case report, a patient with intentional IV injection of mercury who was treated with DMPS taken by mouth for five days exhibited slightly enhanced urinary excretion of mercury, but the benefits were considered quantitatively negligible due to deposits that remained in organs.
Autism and autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs): It has been suggested that dietary changes plus DMPS chelation therapy may help improve behavioral, clinical, and biochemical abnormalities in patients with autism. However, conclusive evidence of effectiveness is lacking.
Respiratory disorders: It has been hypothesized that modulation of labile zinc found in conducting airways may influence the production of pro-inflammatory chemokines in respiratory epithelial cells. DMPS was used with good results to modulate the labile zinc, thus regulating gene expression and chemokine production in lung epithelial cells and fibroblasts.
Other unproven uses: A review proposes the added benefits of using supplemental antioxidants in addition to a chelating agent for the treatment of heavy metal toxicity, building on developments in heavy metal poisoning research about the role of oxidative stress and free radicals adding to heavy metal toxicity. This research idea is echoed in another review attempting to determine the role of antioxidant supplementation when using chelating agents such as DMPS and DMSA for arsenic poisoning. Some researchers suggest that the combination of antioxidants, herbal extracts, and chelating agents may be a promising area of future study for heavy metal intoxication. Alpha-lipoic acid and glutathione are examples of antioxidants that are being researched in the treatment of heavy metal toxicities.

Author information

This information has been edited and peer-reviewed by contributors to the Natural Standard Research Collaboration (www.naturalstandard.com).

Bibliography

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Technique

Chelation agents like 2,3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulfonate (DMPS) and meso 2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) are available over the counter in some countries. The form of DMPS taken by mouth, Dimaval? (not sold in the United States), is available in 100-milligram capsules.
Some researchers suggest that a combination of antioxidants, herbal extracts, and chelators may be a promising area of future study for heavy metal intoxication.
In general, chelation sessions last about three hours and may be scheduled 1-3 times weekly. Secondary sources suggest that 20-30 sessions may be recommended.
However, there is no standard administration protocol for DMPS. The decision is left up to the discretion of the healthcare provider.
DMPS is thought to work by binding to metal compounds in the body, allowing the body to eliminate them.