Chelation Therapy

ABA 553 – Assessing Autism Interventions

Danielle CicaleseMeg Lipper Claudia Pisano

Chelation Scientific name – etheylene diamine

tetra-acetic acid (EDTA)

A chelating agent used in ophthalmic preparations to remove metals which are essential for the metabolism of bacteria and viruses, and therefore inactivate them. It enhances the bactericidal effect of preservatives and is commonly combined with benzalkonium chloride, chlorhexidine and thiomersalate.

What is Chelation? Chelation therapy is a mainstream

treatment used to treat heavy metal poisoning, the term is also used to promote alternative therapy that is supposed to treat heart disease, gangrene, thyroid, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, Alzheimer's, cancer … AUTISM

Approved Chelation Treatment

1989 ACAM (American College for Advancement in Medicine) approved protocol for “the safe and effective administration of EDTA chelation therapy”.

This was approved for treatment due to POISONING from heavy metals not for treatment of Autistic like symptoms

1997-updated protocol to include contraindications yet does not state any criteria for: who, how much or efficacy of treatments

1996 flyer from an osteopathic physician who openly advertises that HE should be contacted before having bypass surgery:

“ There is no published scientific evidence that chelation therapy can render bypass surgery unnecessary or can help people with any of the conditions listed in the ad. The experience to which the ad refers in not a trustworthy substitute for scientific testing. People with coronary artery disease who need bypass surgery and choose chelation instead place themselves at great risk.

Types of Chelation Therapy Intravenous

Oral

Topical

Rectal

Intravenous The most common form EDTA chelation infusions are administered via vein

by slow drip, circulating through the blood stream treating the entire arterial system removing undesirable metals from the body.

This procedure can take up to three hours and patients generally need up to 30 sessions. These sessions are administered throughout several weeks.

Cost - $75 – $125 per treatment Total for treatment sessions approx. $4,000

Oral Offered in pill or capsule form

Pros- Fraction of the cost vs. intravenous can be taken at home

Cons- Smaller percentage of EDTA being

absorbed

Topical Transdermal DMSA creams and

Gluthanione gels

Easy to administer-Applied by massaging the cream or

gel into the skin on particular areas of the body. (usually arms and legs)

Rectal Detoxamin is a patented method of EDTA

chelation therapy medically equivalent to I.V. chelation therapy-the difference is that Detoxamin introduces a smaller dosage on a nightly basis.

Each Detoxamin suppository is designed to release 750 mg of EDTA directly into the bloodstream through the colon wall-safely, gradually, effectively.

When Detoxamin is taken prior to bedtime, there is less metabolic competition for EDTA, resulting in more passing through the system.

History of Chelation Made in Germany in the 1930’s Used as an anecdote for those exposed

to arsenic and lead poisoning during WWI & WWII

So, how did we go from treating vets with lead poisoning to making children with Autism victims?

The Connection Andrew Wakefield has already begun to make

waves in the medical community about links between the MMR shot and Autism.

July 2000

Two mothers, Lyn Redwood & Sally Bernard made a connection

They concluded that Thimerosal “should be considered a probable source of Autism”

Symptoms

Heavy Metal Poisoning

Delay in fine and gross motor movement

Language and Communication Impairment

Unusual Behaviors

Autism Delay in fine and

gross motor movement

Language and Communication Impairment

Unusual Behaviors

Table II: Summary of Psychiatric Disturbances Found in Autism & Mercury Poisoning

Mercury Poisoning Autism Extreme shyness, social withdrawal, feeling overly sensitive, introversion

Social deficits, social withdrawal, self reports of extreme shyness, aloofness

Mood swings; flat affect; mask face; laughing or crying without provocation; episodes of hysteria

Mood swings; flat affect in some; no facial expression; laughing or crying without reason

Anxiety; nervousness; tremulousness; somatization of anxious feelings

Anxiety, nervousness; anxiety disorder

Schizoid tendencies, neurosis, obsessive-compulsive traits, repetitive dreams

Schizophrenic traits; OCD traits; repetitive behaviors and thoughts

Lack of eye contact; being less talkative; hesitancy to engage others

Lack of eye contact, gaze avoidance; avoids conversation

Depression, lack of interest in life, lassitude, fatigue, apathy; feelings of hopelessness; melancholy

Association with depression; lack of initiative, diminished outward emotions

On the one hand, less overtly active, unwilling to go outside or be with others; on the other hand, increased restlessness

Tendency to withdraw, especially to own rooms, prefer to be alone; hyperactivity

Irrational fears Irrational fears Irritability, anger, and aggression; in children this may manifest as frequent and severe temper tantrums

Irritability and aggression; severe temper tantrums in children

Psychotic episodes; hallucinations, hearing voices; paranoid thoughts

Psychotic talk, paranoid thoughts

Impaired face recognition Impaired face recognition

http://www.mercury-poison.com/autism.htm

1.If A is true, then B is true.2.B is true.3.Therefore, A is true.

1. If Mercury Poisoning causes AUTISTIC like symptoms

2. than Mercury Poisoning causes AUTISM3. Mercury Poisoning does cause

AUTISTIC like symptoms therefore Mercury Poison causes AUTISM

Faulty Logic: Affirming the Consequent

Claims Safe, effective and relatively

inexpensive treatment to restore blood flow in victims of atherosclerosis without surgery and to eliminate toxins and heavy metals from your system

Claims Improvement claimed for people with

diminished Sight Hearing Smell Coordination Sexual Potency

The Evidence Mounts In 2003 Dr. Mark Greier and Dr. David

Greier gave 200 Autistic children and 18 non-autistic children a chelating agent.

Results – statistically significant amounts of mercury was present in the urine of the Autistic children.

The Evidence Continues to Mount J.P. Handley of Generation Rescue His son was diagnosed with autism Spent $5,000 a year to have chelating agents to rub on his child’s

arms and legs everyday The “miracle” happened! He was cured!

A controlled study of mercury levels in hair samples of children with autism as compared to their typically developing siblings

P. Gail Williams, , Joseph H. Hersh, AnnaMary Allard, Lonnie L. SearsWeisskopf Child Evaluation Center, University of Louisville, 571 S. Floyd St., Louisville, KY 40202, United States Received 20 April 2007. Revised 7 May 2007. Accepted 16 May 2007. Available online 15 June 2007.

Rescue Angels In 2000 a hand full of kids were being

treated with chelation therapy By 2005 over 10,000 children a year

were being treated with chelation therapy.

8.23.2005

http://www.circare.org/lex/nadama_complaint.pdf

2008: Charges against Dr. Kerry were dropped

Only the Civil Suit remained….

Another child dies:http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=10003567

Deaths, even before the Autism push In the 1950s doctors were seeing deaths

due to kidney toxicity after EDTA treatment

Holistic doctors state that renal functions tests “should” be performed prior to administering chelation: however, nothing that we found states that a child would undergo renal testing

Warnings “These products are dangerously

misleading because they are targeted to patients with serious conditions and limited treatment options,” said Deborah Autor, director of the Office of Compliance in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “The FDA must take a firm stand against companies who prey on the vulnerability of patients seeking hope and relief.”

Cont. "FDA will seek enforcement action

against companies that promote therapeutic benefits of products not yet evaluated by the agency for safety and effectiveness.” said Dara A. Corrigan, associate commissioner for Regulatory Affairs.

Chelation Therapy: Doctors Say it Can be Dangerous

"There doesn't seem to be any scientific justification for using chelation to treat autism,"

said Dr. Paul Wax, executive director of the American College of Medical Toxicology and a

toxicologist with the University of Texas, who is not involved in the case. "To date there's

not been any scientific study that's revealed any definitive link between an environmental

chemical and autism."

Chelation can cause a number of adverse effects, including kidney failure and death.

Coman, who is divorced from the mother of his son, said that as he researched the

treatments being performed on his son, he became convinced something was wrong.

"I wasn't fully aware of the extent of the treatments, and when I researched the treatments

online, I found that there was a very strong consensus that the treatments are not valid

treatments for autism," he said. "My son does not have heavy metal poisoning. I'm not a

doctor, so I don't know any of the details, but as far as I can tell and from what the doctors

have told me, this is not a valid treatment for autism."

Lawsuit Challenges Chelation Therapy Against Autism

A number of court cases involving autism have made headlines in recent years, but most of

those have involved parents suing for damages they claim are caused by vaccines. The

Coman case is unusual.

"It is surprising that someone would turn against the physician who represents himself as

the only one that cares," said Dr. Paul Offit, chief of infectious diseases at the Children's

Hospital of Philadelphia and author of "Autism's False Prophets," a book about questionable

autism treatments.

Conclusion

The use of chelation therapy as a treatment for autism has been linked to at least one death in 2005 of a 5-year-old boy who was treated with an agent that is not widely used in children.

Chelation therapy is dangerous and not proven effective in any form other then seriously high levels of lead or other heavy metal poisoning

What does help children with ASD?Applied Behavior Analysis remains the only scientifically proven intervention for those on the Autism Spectrum and the only intervention approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) other then psychopharmacological intervention. It is an effective tool for educational and behavioral intervention.

Thank you!

References

Jacobson, J., & Foxx, R. M. (2005). Controversial Therapies for Developmental Disabilities. New York: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.Offit, P. M. (2008). Autism's False Prophets. Chichester: Columbia University Press.P. Gail Williams, , Joseph H. Hersh, AnnaMary Allard, Lonnie L. Sears Weisskopf Child Evaluation Center, University of Louisville, 571 S. Floyd St., Louisville, KY 40202, United States Received 20 April 2007. Revised 7 May 2007. Accepted 16 May 2007. Available online 15 June 2007. A controlled study of mercury levels in hair samples of children with autism as compared to their typically developing siblings NewsChannel5. (2009, March 13). Girl's Death Raises Questions About Alternative Therapies.chelation Therpay. Safety Concerns, Kidney Toxicity, Excessive Removal... (2012, June 13).