Re: DMPS chelates both mercury and lead

i thought i had read that DMPS does chelate lead. well, here is what i found. it would appear that DMPS does chelate lead from these two studies. one on humans, one on rats.

http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/235/3/665


Use of 2,3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulfonate in treatment of lead poisoning in children

JJ Chisolm and DJ Thomas

2,3-Dimercaptopropane-1-sulfonate (DMPS) is a water-soluble metal complexing agent. Administration to lead-poisoned children of 5-day courses of 200 or 400 mg of DMPS per m2 surface area per day given p.o. in divided doses resulted in a significant decline in the concentration of lead in blood. DMPS treatment did not significantly alter the concentrations of zinc or copper in plasma. Urinary excretion of lead, zinc and copper was increased by DMPS administration and these increases were sustained throughout the 5-day course of treatment. No significant changes in hepatic, renal or hematological function were found in DMPS-treated children and no side effects attributable to DMPS were noted. It is concluded that a 5-day course of DMPS given p.o. may be safe and effective in the treatment of asymptomatic lead poisoning in children.
Volume 235, Issue 3, pp. 665-669, 12/01/1985
Copyright © 1985 by American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics

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http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6WXH-4DDP5J5-29&_us...


Chelation of lead by dimercaptopropane sulfonate and a possible diagnostic use
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Teresa Twarog and M. George Cherian

Department of Pathology, Health Sciences Centre, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5C1, Canada

The mobilization of lead (Pb) from Pb-exposed rats was examined following administration of dimercaptopropane sulfonate (DMPS). A dose-response study showed that the highest dose of DMPS (200 μmol/kg, ip) removed Pb from kidneys, liver, and bone, while the lower doses (25 and 50 μmol/kg) chelated Pb only from the kidneys. In experiments where DMPS was repeatedly injected to Pb-exposed rats, the maximum urinary excretion of Pb was observed within 24 hr after the first injection, with little effect in subsequent injections. Discontinuation of DMPS after the first injection (at a dose of 50 μmol DMPS/kg) caused renal Pb levels to increase until further injection of DMPS, several days later, which again mobilized Pb only from the kidneys. A single oral administration of 150 μmol DMPS/kg (a dose adjusted for specific chelation from the kidney) to rats, previously exposed to different doses of Pb resulted in a significant decrease of renal Pb in groups injected with more than 0.5 mg Pb/kg. A linear relationship was observed between renal Pb burden and urinary Pb excretion following chelation (r = 0.94, p < 0.01). Thus, the specific removal of Pb from the kidney by DMPS treatment suggests a potential use of DMPS, a relatively nontoxic drug, for the estimation of renal Pb burden and also for treatment of Pb poisoning. Unlike other chelating agents, DMPS can be administered orally.