Common Chelators (EDTA, DMSA, deferoxamine, penicillamine)
Start with the big picture
The lesson compares chelators by their metal affinity, clinical uses, routes of administration, and important risks. CaNa₂-EDTA is a parenteral option for lead poisoning, while oral DMSA is used for mild-to-moderate lead poisoning in children and can also treat arsenic and mercury exposure. Deferoxamine binds ferric iron and is used in acute iron overdose and chronic transfusional iron overload. Penicillamine’s affinity for copper makes it a treatment for Wilson disease; it also has other uses, including cystinuria. The source highlights agent-specific toxicities and monitoring considerations, as well as the possibility that chelation may deplete essential trace metals or vitamins. Selecting an agent requires attention to the metal involved, urgency, route, toxicity, and renal function.
What you'll learn
- Explain how chelation promotes metal excretion.
- Compare the target metals, routes, and uses of four common chelators.
- Identify key adverse effects associated with EDTA, DMSA, deferoxamine, and penicillamine.
- Describe patient and treatment factors that influence chelator selection.
- Recognize the need to consider monitoring and essential nutrient depletion.
Continue your study
Work through the complete notes and reinforce the topic with the study tools available in the full lesson.
