Some science behind the scenes
DMPS
The following is a direct quote from Wikipedia:
2,3-Dimercapto-1-propanesulfonic acid (abbreviated DMPS) and its sodium salt (known as Unithiol) are chelating agents that form complexes with various heavy metals. They are related to dimercaprol, which is another chelating agent.
The synthesis of DMPS was first reported in 1956 by V. E. Petrunkin. The effects of DMPS on heavy metal poisoning, including with polonium-210, were investigated in the following years. DMPS was found to have some protective effect, prolonging the survival time.
A study was undertaken of DMPS use by workers involved in the production of a calomel skin bleaching lotion and in direct contact with mercurous chloride and that already showed elevated urine mercury levels. The sodium salt of DMPS was found to be effective in lowering the body burden of mercury and in decreasing the urinary mercury concentration to normal levels.
DMPS administrated to a mercury poisoned animal model failed to remove the mercury from tissues and reduce the inorganic mercury burden in the brain.
A 2008 study reported a case of Stevens–Johnson syndrome (SJS), a potentially serious disease, in a child undergoing chelation therapy with DMPS; see below.
INTRODUCTION: Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) is an uncommon and potentially serious mucocutaneous disease. The most important step in the management of SJS is early recognition and immediate withdrawal of the causative agent. We present a patient with SJS associated with dimercaptopropane-1-sulfonate (DMPS) therapy.
CASE REPORT: An asymptomatic 11-year old boy who had been exposed chronically to mercury vapour had a 24-hour urine mercury concentration of 37 microgram/L (reference value <10 microgram/L). Exposure to the mercury vapour was stopped and treatment with oral DMPS was begun. After two weeks of therapy, he developed a disseminated cutaneous eruption of red pruritic macules on his chest and back, which three days later had spread all over his body with the discrete maculae becoming confluent; erosions and crusts developed on his lips and he had blisters in his mouth. The diagnosis of SJS was made, the DMPS was stopped, and the SJS resolved gradually.
DISCUSSION: Chelation agents like DMPS or DMSA are increasingly used and are available over the counter in some countries. These drugs are used in patients with complaints that are attributed to mercury-containing dental amalgams and in children with autism.
CONCLUSION: The reported association suggests that SJS may be a potential complication of DMPS therapy, and this should be considered in the risk-benefit analysis of chelation. The reported association suggests that SJS may be a potential complication of DMPS therapy, and this should be considered in the risk-benefit analysis of chelation.
PMID: 18568806
Observations
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- Cobalt poisoning and hip replacement
- DMPS (2,3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulfonate, dimaval) decreases the body burden of mercury in humans exposed to mercurous chloride
- Effects of chelators on mercury, iron, and lead neurotoxicity in cortical culture
- In vitro assessment of chelating agents with regard to their abstraction efficiency of Cd(2+) bound to plasma proteins
- The role of thiols, dithiols, nutritional factors and interacting ligands in the toxicology of mercury