Chelation therapy: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 16:32, 16 February 2025

Chelation Therapy[edit]

Chelation therapy is a medical procedure that involves the administration of chelating agents to remove heavy metals from the body. Chelating agents are substances that can bind to metals in the body, forming a stable complex that can be excreted. This therapy is used in the treatment of heavy metal poisoning, such as lead or mercury poisoning, and in conditions like iron overload.

Mechanism of Action[edit]

Chelation therapy works by introducing chelating agents into the bloodstream. These agents have a high affinity for metal ions and form stable complexes with them. Once bound, the metal-chelate complex is more water-soluble and can be excreted through the kidneys or gastrointestinal tract.

Common Chelating Agents[edit]

Several chelating agents are used in medical practice, each with specific affinities for different metals:

EDTA: Commonly used for lead poisoning.
Dimercaprol: Used for arsenic, gold, and mercury poisoning.
Deferoxamine: Used for iron overload, particularly in patients with thalassemia.
Deferasirox: An oral chelator used for chronic iron overload due to blood transfusions.

Applications[edit]

Chelation therapy is primarily used in the following conditions:

Heavy Metal Poisoning: Acute or chronic exposure to metals like lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium.
Iron Overload Disorders: Conditions such as thalassemia and sickle cell disease where repeated blood transfusions lead to excess iron accumulation.
Wilson's Disease: A genetic disorder leading to copper accumulation, treated with chelators like penicillamine.

Controversial Uses[edit]

Chelation therapy has been controversially used for other conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, although there is limited scientific evidence supporting its efficacy in these cases. The use of chelation therapy for such purposes is not widely endorsed by medical authorities.

Side Effects and Risks[edit]

While chelation therapy can be effective, it is not without risks. Potential side effects include:

Kidney damage
Hypocalcemia
Allergic reactions
Gastrointestinal disturbances

Related Pages[edit]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''Chelation therapy''' is a medical procedure that involves the administration of [[chelating agents]] to remove heavy metals from the body. Chelation therapy has a long history of use in clinical toxicology and remains in use for some very specific medical treatments, although it is administered under very careful medical supervision due to various inherent risks.
+== Chelation Therapy ==
-== History ==
+[[File:Deferasirox–iron(III)_complex.png|thumb|right|200px|Deferasirox–iron(III) complex, a common chelating agent used in iron overload conditions.]]
-The concept of chelation therapy began in the early 20th century with the development of [[ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid]] (EDTA), a synthetic amino acid and chelating compound. EDTA was first used in the 1940s for the treatment of [[lead poisoning]].
+'''Chelation therapy''' is a medical procedure that involves the administration of chelating agents to remove heavy metals from the body. Chelating agents are substances that can bind to metals in the body, forming a stable complex that can be excreted. This therapy is used in the treatment of heavy metal poisoning, such as lead or mercury poisoning, and in conditions like iron overload.
-== Mechanism of action ==
+== Mechanism of Action ==
+Chelation therapy works by introducing chelating agents into the bloodstream. These agents have a high affinity for metal ions and form stable complexes with them. Once bound, the metal-chelate complex is more water-soluble and can be excreted through the kidneys or gastrointestinal tract.
-Chelation therapy works by forming a chemical bond with certain metals in the body, allowing them to be easily filtered out by the kidneys and excreted in urine. The chelating agent may be administered intravenously, intramuscularly, or orally, depending on the agent and the type of poisoning.
+== Common Chelating Agents ==
+Several chelating agents are used in medical practice, each with specific affinities for different metals:
-== Uses ==
+* '''[[Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid|EDTA]]''': Commonly used for lead poisoning.
+* '''[[Dimercaprol]]''': Used for arsenic, gold, and mercury poisoning.
+* '''[[Deferoxamine]]''': Used for iron overload, particularly in patients with thalassemia.
+* '''[[Deferasirox]]''': An oral chelator used for chronic iron overload due to blood transfusions.
-Chelation therapy is used as a treatment for acute and chronic heavy metal poisoning, such as lead poisoning or iron overload. It is also used in the treatment of heart disease and autism, although these uses are controversial and not widely accepted in the medical community.
+== Applications ==
+Chelation therapy is primarily used in the following conditions:
-== Risks and side effects ==
+* '''Heavy Metal Poisoning''': Acute or chronic exposure to metals like lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium.
+* '''Iron Overload Disorders''': Conditions such as [[thalassemia]] and [[sickle cell disease]] where repeated blood transfusions lead to excess iron accumulation.
+* '''Wilson's Disease''': A genetic disorder leading to copper accumulation, treated with chelators like [[penicillamine]].
-Chelation therapy can have serious side effects, including kidney damage, irregular heartbeat, and low blood pressure. It can also cause a severe allergic reaction. Because of these risks, chelation therapy should only be administered under the supervision of a medical professional.
+== Controversial Uses ==
+Chelation therapy has been controversially used for other conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, although there is limited scientific evidence supporting its efficacy in these cases. The use of chelation therapy for such purposes is not widely endorsed by medical authorities.
-== See also ==
+== Side Effects and Risks ==
-* [[Heavy metal (toxicity)]]
+While chelation therapy can be effective, it is not without risks. Potential side effects include:
-* [[Lead poisoning]]
+* Kidney damage
+* Hypocalcemia
+* Allergic reactions
+* Gastrointestinal disturbances
+== Related Pages ==
+* [[Heavy metal poisoning]]
 * [[Iron overload]]
+* [[Thalassemia]]
+* [[Sickle cell disease]]
+* [[Wilson's disease]]
+{{Medicine}}
 [[Category:Medical treatments]]
 [[Category:Toxicology]]
-{{medicine-stub}}