Use of oral dimercaptosuccinic acid (succimer) in adult patients with inorganic lead poisoning,” The Quarterly

Background: Chelation therapy has been used as a means of reducing the body burden of lead for five decades. Intravenous sodium calcium edetate has been the preferred agent, but there is increasing evi-dence that dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) is also a potent chelator of lead. Methods: Oral DMSA 30mg/kg/day was admin-istered to adults with blood lead concentrations> 50mg/dl. The impact of DMSA on urine lead excretion, on blood lead concentrations and on symptoms was observed. The incidence and severity of adverse effects was also recorded. Results: Thirty-five courses were given to 17 patients. DMSA significantly (P< 0.0001) increased urine lead excretion and significantly (P< 0.0001) reduced blood lead concentrations. Mean dail