Lack of reversal effect of EDTA treatment on cadmium induced renal dysfunction: a fourteen-year follow-up

ISSN： 0966-0844

Source： BioMetals, Vol.17, Iss.4, 2004-08, pp. : 435-441

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) on cadmium (Cd) induced renal dysfunction. Seventeen workers (14 males, 3 females) were diagnosed with occupational Cd poisoning in 1986. These individuals had between 7 to 39 years of Cd exposure. From 1986 to 1999, patients received periodic EDTA therapy as part of their follow-up, all at the same hospital. Levels of urinary cadmium (UCd) and urinary beta2-microglobulin (B2M) were measured before and after each annual EDTA treatment period. Renal dysfunction was defined as urinary B2M ≥ 0.8 mg/g Cr (creatinine). In these workers, patients with UCd level higher than 10 μg/g Cr in 1986 had abnormal B2M excretions (≥0.8 mg/g Cr) or trended to have abnormal B2M levels during the treatment period. However, in subjects with UCd concentration lower than 10 μg/g Cr in 1986, their urinary B2M excretions either remained normal (<0.8 mg cr)="" or="" returned="" to="" normal="" during="" the="" treatment="" period.="" the="" prevalence="" of="" renal="" dysfunction="" increased="" during="" the="" follow="" up="" period="" regardless="" of="" whether="" ucd="" levels="" increased="" or="" not,="" indicating="" a="" progressive="" renal="" dysfunction="" despite="" removal="" from="" cd="" exposure.="" our="" results="" suggest="" that="" reversibility="" of="" renal="" dysfunction="" caused="" by="" cd="" related="" to="" the="" level="" of="" cd="" exposure="" at="" the="" time="" of="" removal="" from="" exposure:="" renal="" dysfunction="" could="" be="" reversed="" if="" initial="" ucd=""></0.8 mg>< 10 μg/g cr,="" but="" was="" irreversible="" when="" ucd=""> 10 μg/g Cr. Repeated examinations on these 17 Cd exposed workers from 1986 to 1999 also revealed that periodic administration of EDTA had no beneficial effects on chronic Cd-induced renal dysfunction.