The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of 3 common me
tal chelating drugs on selected biochemical and immunotoxicological va
riables in rats. The animals were treated consecutively for 15 days wi
th equimolar doses of calcium disodium ethylenediamine tetra-acetic ac
id (CaNa2EDTA), meso 2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA), or 2,3-dimerc
aptopropane 1-sulfonate (DMPS). The results indicate that none of the
3 drugs appear to have potential immunotoxic effects. However, the ele
vated serum transaminase activity, reduced glutathione contents, and p
lasma alkaline phosphatase activity following CaNa2EDTA administration
indicate that caution is warranted with the prolonged use of CaNa2EDT
A.