Concerns of chelation therapy, autism

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Concerns of chelation therapy, autism

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ITHACA, N.Y., Dec. 14 (UPI) -- Lead chelation therapy reduces lead exposure

problems but could create lasting effects for children treated for autism,

say New York researchers.

Cornell University researchers say their study in young rats has

implications for the treatment of autistic children, because when rats with

no lead in their systems were treated with the lead-removing chemical, they

showed declines in their learning and behavior that were similar to the rats

that were exposed to lead.

Chelating drugs, which bind to lead and other metals in the blood, are

increasingly being used for the treatment of autism in children.

The rats with moderate lead exposure benefited greatly from the lead

chelation medication succimer, and rats exposed to higher lead levels showed

benefits in the emotional domain; however, for the control group with no

lead exposure that were given succimer, " we found lasting cognition and

emotion-regulation (deficits) that were as pervasive and large as rats with

high lead exposure, " according to the study published in the journal

Environmental Health Perspectives.

One possibility is that succimer, in the absence of lead, may disrupt the

balance of such essential minerals as zinc and iron.

" These findings raise concerns about the use of chelating agents in treating

autistic children, " said senior author Barbara Strupp.

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