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To the Editor: Dr Knudtson and colleagues¹ reported that chelation therapy was ineffective in treating patients with ischemic heart disease. However, some of their findings suggest that chelation may do some good.

First, there is some evidence that magnesium and ascorbic acid, which are common components of chelation therapy, may have beneficial effects.^2-3 Patients in both the treatment and placebo groups received magnesium and ascorbic acid, and both groups improved.

Second, Knudtson et al pointed out that there may be some delayed cardiac benefits from chelation due to EDTA. However, the authors failed to comment on the 9.4% angioplasty rate in the placebo group and the 0% rate in the treatment group at 1 year of follow-up.

I also question how well the authors followed the American College for Advancement in Medicine (ACAM) protocol.⁴ Randomization started in January 1996, with treadmill testing "at 15 and 27 weeks after randomization." It . . . [Full Text of this Article]

RELATED ARTICLE

Chelation Therapy for Ischemic Heart Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Merril L. Knudtson, D. George Wyse, P. Diane Galbraith, Rollin Brant, Kathy Hildebrand, Diana Paterson, Deborah Richardson, Connie Burkart, Ellen Burgess, and for the Program to Assess Alternative Treatment Strategies to Achieve Cardiac Health Investigators
JAMA. 2002;287(4):481-486.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT