EDTA TREATMENT OF INTERMITTENT CLAUDICATION - A DOUBLE-BLIND, PLACEBO-CONTROLLED STUDY

A double-blind, randomized multicentre study was undertaken to evaluat e the possible effect of chelation treatment with ethylenediamine-tetr aacetic acid (EDTA) in patients with severe intermittent claudication. A total of 153 patients received 20 intravenous infusions of either 3 g Na2EDTA or placebo during a period of 5-9 weeks. Vitamin, mineral a nd trace element supplements were administered orally. The changes obs erved in the pain-free and maximal walking distances, measured on a tr eadmill, were similar in the two groups. During the 3-month (n = 149) and 6-month (n = 123) follow-up period, no long-term therapeutic effec t of EDTA could be demonstrated. The ankle-brachial blood pressure ind ex remained unchanged throughout the study period. This study failed t o demonstrate any effect of EDTA chelation treatment in intermittent c laudication.