Prevention and Treatment of Vesication and Poisoning Caused by Arsenicals.
Abstract
Meso-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) and the sodium salt of 2,3-dimercapto-1-propanesulfonic acid (DMPS) are analogous in chemical structure to dimercaprol (BAL, British Anti-Lewisite). Dimercaprol was among the first therapeutically useful metal chelating agents and was developed originally as an anti-lewisite agent. Either DMSA or DMPS protects rabbits from the lethal systemic action of dichloro (2-chlorovinyl) arsine (29.7 umols/kg, also known as lewisite. DMSA and DMPS warrant further investigation as water soluble metal binding agents in both in vivo and in vitro experiments. DMPS (2,3-dimercapto-1-propane sulfonate, Na salt) is an important water soluble analog of dimercaprol. All investigations of this antidote for heavy metal intoxication have dealt only with the racemic mixture. In the present report, the optical isomers of DMPS have been separated and the arsenic antidote activity of the levo-rotatory (-) isomer, the dextro-rotatory (+) isomer and the racemic mixture of DMPS have been investigated in vivo and in vitro. The use of the individual optical isomers of DMPS does not appear to have any advantage over the racemic mixture as an arsenic antidote DMPS, DMSA and other dimercapto compounds warrant further experimental studies and eventually clinical trials for the treatment of intoxication by arsenic, especially against lewisite gas. Soviet investigators and West German investigations have recommended that it replace BAL for treatment of heavy metal poisoning.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 15, 1982
- Accession Number
- ADA178380
Entities
People
- H. V. Aposhian
Organizations
- University of Arizona