BIOCHEMICAL AND IMMUNOTOXICOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF METAL CHELATING DRUGS IN RATS

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.