MYOCARDIAL ELEMENTS CONTENT AND CARDIAC-FUNCTION AFTER REPEATED IV ADMINISTRATION OF DMPS IN RABBITS

1 A dithiol chelating agent -2,3-dimercapto-1-propane-sulphonate (DMPS )- may be administered in acute or chronic intoxication with certain h eavy metals (e.g. cadmium, cobalt, lead) that may cause cardiotoxicity . 2 DRIPS can act as a depleter of physiologically important elements (e.g., potassium, magnesium, calcium) in various tissues including car diac one. The possibility of subsequent alteration in cardiac function cannot be excluded. 3 Changes in the myocardial concentration of the above mentioned elements at the end of the experiment and cardiac func tion were studied during repeated I.V. administration of DRIPS as sing le doses of 50 mg/kg/week for 10 weeks in rabbits. Biochemical, haemat ological and histological examinations were also performed. 4 Most of the measured parameters were not affected by the repeated administrati on of DMPS. A significant decrease in magnesium and a near significant decrease in calcium in cardiac muscle was not accompanied by function al or morphological changes. It is still suggested, however, that care should be taken in using DMPS for treating patients with cardiotoxici ty as a result of poisoning with heavy metals.