succimer and Autistic-Disorder

This study investigated the effect of oral dimercapto succinic acid (DMSA) therapy for children with autism spectrum disorders ages 3-8 years.. Phase 1 involved 65 children who received one round of DMSA (3 days). Participants who had high urinary excretion of toxic metals were selected to continue on to phase 2. In phase 2, 49 participants were randomly assigned in a double-blind design to receive an additional 6 rounds of either DMSA or placebo.. DMSA greatly increased the excretion of lead, substantially increased excretion of tin and bismuth, and somewhat increased the excretion of thallium, mercury, antimony, and tungsten. There was some increase in urinary excretion of essential minerals, especially potassium and chromium. The Phase 1 single round of DMSA led to a dramatic normalization of RBC glutathione in almost all cases, and greatly improved abnormal platelet counts, suggesting a significant decrease in inflammation.. Overall, DMSA therapy seems to be reasonably safe, effective in removing several toxic metals (especially lead), dramatically effective in normalizing RBC glutathione, and effective in normalizing platelet counts. Only 1 round (3 days) was sufficient to improve glutathione and platelets. Additional rounds increased excretion of toxic metals.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Autistic Disorder; Blood Cell Count; Child; Child, Preschool; Double-Blind Method; Female; Glutathione; Humans; Male; Metals; Succimer; Treatment Outcome

This study investigated the effects of oral dimercapto succinic acid (DMSA) therapy on the behavioural symptoms of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) ages 3-8 years.. Phase 1 involved 65 children with ASD who received one round of DMSA (3 days). Participants who had high urinary excretion of toxic metals were selected to continue on to phase 2. In phase 2, 49 participants were randomly assigned in a double-blind design to receive an additional 6 rounds of either DMSA or placebo.. The groups receiving one round and seven rounds of DMSA had significant improvements on all the assessment measures. For the seven round group, the degree of improvement on the assessment measures could be partially explained by a regression analysis based on excretion of toxic metals and changes in glutathione (adjusted R2 of 0.28-0.75, p < 0.02 in all cases). One round of DMSA had nearly the same benefit as seven rounds. The assessment measures correlated reasonably with one another at the beginning of the study (r = 0.60-0.87) and even better at the end of the study (r = 0.63-0.94).. Overall, both one and seven rounds of DMSA therapy seems to be reasonably safe in children with ASD who have high urinary excretion of toxic metals, and possibly helpful in reducing some of the symptoms of autism in those children.

Topics: Adaptation, Psychological; Aging; Autistic Disorder; Chelating Agents; Child; Child Behavior; Child, Preschool; Drug Administration Schedule; Glutathione; Heavy Metal Poisoning, Nervous System; Humans; Metals, Heavy; Parents; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Regression Analysis; Succimer; Surveys and Questionnaires; Treatment Outcome

A medical hypothesis has suggested that some autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) may result from interactions between the methionine cycle-transsulfuration and androgen pathways following exposure to mercury.. The IRB of the Institute for Chronic Illnesses approved the present study. A novel treatment was utilized combining LUPRON (leuprolide acetate, TAP Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) and CHEMET (meso-2, 3-dimercaptosuccinic acid--DMSA, McNeil Consumer Products Company) on 11 consecutive children with ASDs.. A significant (p<0.01) overall improvement from the 70-79th percentile of severity (median baseline score=87) at baseline to the 40-49th percentile of severity (median end of study period score=63) at the end of the study was observed for patients treated for a median of approximately 4 months. Significant improvements in sociability, cognitive awareness, behavior, and clinical symptoms/behaviors of hyperandrogenemia were also observed. Significant decreases in blood androgens and increases in urinary heavy metal concentrations were observed. Minimal drug adverse effects were found.. This study provides the first clinical evidence for the benefit that combined anti-androgen and anti-heavy metal therapy may have on some children with ASDs. Additional studies should examine androgen and heavy metal mechanisms of action in ASDs, and future ASD treatment protocols should consider androgens and heavy metals.

Topics: Adolescent; Androgen Antagonists; Autistic Disorder; Chelating Agents; Child; Child Behavior; Cognition; Female; Humans; Leuprolide; Male; Metals, Heavy; Severity of Illness Index; Social Behavior; Statistics, Nonparametric; Succimer; Treatment Outcome

Autism is a developmental disability characterized by severe deficits in social interaction and communication. The definite cause of autism is still unknown. The aim of this study is to find out the relation between exposure to Lead and/or mercury as heavy metals and autistic symptoms, dealing with the heavy metals with chelating agents can improve the autististic symptoms.. Blood and hair samples were obtained from 45 children from Upper Egypt with autism between the ages of 2 and 10 years and 45 children served as controls in the same age range, after taken an informed consent and fill a questionnaire to assess the risk factors. The samples were analyzed blindly for lead and mercury by using atomic absorption and ICP-MS. Data from the two groups were compared, then follow up of the autistic children after treatment with chelating agents were done.. The results obtained showed significant difference among the two groups, there was high level of mercury and lead among those kids with autism. Significant decline in the blood level of lead and mercury with the use of DMSA as a chelating agent. In addition, there was decline in the autistic symptoms with the decrease in the lead and mercury level in blood.. Lead and mercury considered as one of the main causes of autism. Environmental exposure as well as defect in heavy metal metabolism is responsible for the high level of heavy metals. Detoxification by chelating agents had great role in improvement of those kids.

Topics: Autistic Disorder; Case-Control Studies; Chelating Agents; Child; Child, Preschool; Environmental Pollutants; Female; Humans; Lead; Male; Mercury; Risk Factors; Succimer; Surveys and Questionnaires; Treatment Outcome

The reasons for the rise in autism prevalence are a subject of heated professional debate. Featuring a critical appraisal of some research used to question whether rising levels of autism are related to environmental exposure to toxins (Soden et al. 2007, Barbaresi et al. 2009, Thompson et al. 2007) we aim to evaluate the actual state of scientific knowledge. In addition, we surveyed the empirical research on the topic of autism and heavy metal toxins. In our opinion empirical investigations are finding support for a link with heavy metal toxins. The various causes that have led to the increase in autism diagnosis are likely multi-faceted, and understanding the causes is one of the most important health topics today. We argue that scientific research does not support rejecting the link between the neurodevelopmental disorder of autism and toxic exposures.

Topics: Autistic Disorder; Chelating Agents; Child; Child, Preschool; Data Collection; Environmental Exposure; Europe; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Heavy Metal Poisoning, Nervous System; Humans; Mercury; Prevalence; Risk Assessment; Succimer; United States

Topics: Autistic Disorder; Chelation Therapy; Child; Clinical Trials as Topic; Humans; Succimer

Topics: Animals; Autistic Disorder; Chelation Therapy; Child; Child, Preschool; Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic; Ethics Committees, Research; Humans; National Institute of Mental Health (U.S.); Succimer; United States

Topics: Autistic Disorder; Chelating Agents; Child; Humans; Metals, Heavy; Succimer; Urinalysis

To address a possible environmental contribution to autism, we carried out a retrospective study on urinary porphyrin levels, a biomarker of environmental toxicity, in 269 children with neurodevelopmental and related disorders referred to a Paris clinic (2002-2004), including 106 with autistic disorder. Urinary porphyrin levels determined by high-performance liquid chromatography were compared between diagnostic groups including internal and external control groups. Coproporphyrin levels were elevated in children with autistic disorder relative to control groups. Elevation was maintained on normalization for age or to a control heme pathway metabolite (uroporphyrin) in the same samples. The elevation was significant (P < 0.001). Porphyrin levels were unchanged in Asperger's disorder, distinguishing it from autistic disorder. The atypical molecule precoproporphyrin, a specific indicator of heavy metal toxicity, was also elevated in autistic disorder (P < 0.001) but not significantly in Asperger's. A subgroup with autistic disorder was treated with oral dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) with a view to heavy metal removal. Following DMSA there was a significant (P = 0.002) drop in urinary porphyrin excretion. These data implicate environmental toxicity in childhood autistic disorder.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Adolescent; Autistic Disorder; Biomarkers; Chelating Agents; Child; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive; Child, Preschool; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Coproporphyrins; Environmental Exposure; Female; Heavy Metal Poisoning; Humans; Male; Metals, Heavy; Porphyrias; Porphyrins; Retrospective Studies; Succimer; Treatment Outcome; Uroporphyrins

From 2003 to 2005, deaths of 3 individuals as a result of cardiac arrest caused by hypocalcemia during chelation therapy were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Two were children, both of whom were treated with edetate disodium. At the time of this writing, the adult case was still under investigation. No previous cases of death resulting from hypocalcemia during chelation have been reported. From our experience and review of the literature, we suggest that health care providers who are unfamiliar with chelation consult an expert before undertaking treatment and that hospital formularies evaluate whether stocking edetate disodium is necessary, given the risk for hypocalcemia and the availability of less toxic alternatives.

Topics: Autistic Disorder; Calcium; Chelating Agents; Chelation Therapy; Child, Preschool; Death, Sudden, Cardiac; Drug Therapy, Combination; Edetic Acid; Fatal Outcome; Female; Humans; Hypocalcemia; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain; Infusions, Intravenous; Lead Poisoning; Male; Medication Errors; Middle Aged; Naturopathy; Risk Management; Sodium; Succimer