Chelation therapy is used as a treatment for acute mercury, iron (including in cases of thalassemia), arsenic, lead, uranium, plutonium and other forms of toxic metal poisoning. The chelating agent may be administered intravenously, intramuscularly, or orally, depending on the agent and the type of poisoning.
Several chelating agents are available, having different affinities for different metals. Common chelating agents include:
* Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) * Aminophenoxyethane-tetraacetic acid (BAPTA) * Deferasirox * Deferiprone * Deferoxamine * Diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) * Dimercaprol (BAL) * Dimercapto-propane sulfonate (DMPS) * Dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) * Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (calcium disodium versante) (CaNa2-EDTA) * Ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid (EGTA) * D-penicillamine
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