Inappropriate Diagnosis and Chelation Treatment of Alleged Heavy-Metal Toxicity
Authors: Robert S. Baratz
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2009)

Letters20 October 2009Inappropriate Diagnosis and Chelation Treatment of Alleged Heavy-Metal ToxicityRobert S. Baratz, MD, DDS, PhD and Stephen Barrett, MDRobert S. Baratz, MD, DDS, PhDFrom South Shore Health Center, Braintree, MA 02184, and Chapel Hill, NC 27517.Search for more papers by this author and Stephen Barrett, MDFrom South Shore Health Center, Braintree, MA 02184, and Chapel Hill, NC 27517.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-151-8-200910200-00025 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Background: Unconventional physicians commonly use claims of heavy-metal toxicity to justify nonstandard chelation therapy for coronary artery disease, autism, and other conditions for which it lacks proven value. These claims are typically supported by misleading “screening tests.”Objective: To report 2 representative cases of nonstandard chelation therapy.Case Report: A 56-year-old man with biopsy-proven cancer consulted a “holistic” physician for help. After a “urine toxic metals” test reported elevated lead and mercury levels, he had more than 50 intravenous treatments with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and other substances over 2 years.In addition, a 5-year-old autistic child was treated by an ...References1. Frumkin H, Manning CC, Williams PL, Sanders A, Taylor BB, Pierce M, et al. Diagnostic chelation challenge with DMSA: a biomarker of long-term mercury exposure? Environ Health Perspect. 2001;109:167-71. [PMID: 11266328] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Allen A. Treating autism as if vaccines caused it: the theory may be dead, but the treatments live on. Slate. 1 April 2009. Accessed at www.slate.com/id/2215128 on 11 September 2009. Google Scholar3. Barnes PM, Bloom B, Nahin RL. Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use among Adults and Children: United States, 2007. National Health Statistics Reports no. 12. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics; 2008. Google Scholar4. Barrett S. How the “urine toxic metals” test is used to defraud patients. Quackwatch. 10 March 2009. Accessed at www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/Tests/urine_toxic.html on 11 September 2009. Google Scholar5. Charlton N, Wallace KL. American College of Medical Toxicology Position Statement on Post-Chelator Challenge Urinary Metal Testing. 2009. Accessed at www.acmt.net/cgi/page.cgi?aid=2999&_id=52&zine=show on 16 September 2009. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From South Shore Health Center, Braintree, MA 02184, and Chapel Hill, NC 27517.Disclosures: None disclosed. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byNocebo-Responsive Patients and Topical Pain Control Agents Used for Orofacial and Mucosal Pain 20 October 2009Volume 151, Issue 8Page: 591KeywordsAutismExcretionPatientsResearch laboratoriesStable coronary artery diseaseToxicityToxicologyUrineYoung adults ePublished: 20 October 2009 Issue Published: 20 October 2009 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2009 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...