Transdermal Absorption of Dimercaptopropane-1-Sulfonate (DMPS) and Effect on Urinary Mercury Excretion

Summary

DMPS is a metal chelator which is approved for use in Europe. While not an FDA-approved drug in the US, it is easily obtained and administered by alternative health practitioners to their patients. A formulation called 'TD DMPS' (transdermal DMPS) is in use, despite the fact there is no published literature to support that the agent is absorbed transdermally. The investigators hypothesis is that DMPS is not absorbed through the skin. The investigators plan to apply TD DMPS to healthy volunteers and then test serum for presence of DMPS. In addition the investigators will measure urinary mercury concentrations pre and post DMPS application.

Timeline

Start

2010-04

Primary completion

2010-12

Completion

2010-12

Publications

• Background Aposhian HV. DMSA and DMPS--water soluble antidotes for heavy metal poisoning. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol. 1983;23:193-215. doi: 10.1146/annurev.pa.23.040183.001205. No abstract available.
• Background Clarkson TW, Magos L, Cox C, Greenwood MR, Amin-Zaki L, Majeed MA, Al-Damluji SF. Tests of efficacy of antidotes for removal of methylmercury in human poisoning during the Iraq outbreak. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1981 Jul;218(1):74-83.
• Background Chisolm JJ Jr, Thomas DJ. Use of 2,3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulfonate in treatment of lead poisoning in children. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1985 Dec;235(3):665-9.
• Background Aposhian HV. Mobilization of mercury and arsenic in humans by sodium 2,3-dimercapto-1-propane sulfonate (DMPS). Environ Health Perspect. 1998 Aug;106 Suppl 4(Suppl 4):1017-25. doi: 10.1289/ehp.98106s41017.
• Background Gross L. A broken trust: lessons from the vaccine--autism wars. PLoS Biol. 2009 May 26;7(5):e1000114. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1000114. Epub 2009 May 26.
• Background Torres-Alanis O, Garza-Ocanas L, Bernal MA, Pineyro-Lopez A. Urinary excretion of trace elements in humans after sodium 2,3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulfonate challenge test. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol. 2000;38(7):697-700. doi: 10.1081/clt-100102382.

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Indications