Diagnostic Value of a Chelating Agent in Patients with Symptoms Allegedly Caused by Amalgam Fillings

The chelating agent 2,3 dimercaptopropane-1-sulfonate (DMPS) has been used in a mercury mobilization test for diagnoses in illnesses allegedly associated with the presence of amalgam restorations. DMPS is an accepted antidote to heavy metal poisoning. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of DMPS in patients with symptoms self-related to their amalgam fillings. The subjects consisted of four groups: 19 healthy controls without amalgam experience; 21 healthy controls with amalgam fillings; 20 patients who claimed symptoms of "mercury poisoning" from dental amalgam; and 20 patients who had amalgam fillings removed because of such symptoms. DMPS (2 mg/kg body weight) was injected intravenously, and urine was collected prior to the injection, 30 and 120 min after the injection, and throughout the next 22 hrs. The samples were analyzed for total mercury by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The total median amounts of mercury excreted over 24 hrs for those with complain...