ABSTRACT: In a retrospective study we report results of EDTA chelation in 470 patients, using a number of parameters, most of them objective. Although the patients acted as their own controls, we observed improvements of 80-91%, depending upon the measurement used. Of 92 patients referred for surgical intervention, only 10 required ultimate surgery after or during their chelation therapy, thus saving an estimated 3 million dollars of insurance money. Our experience covers a period of 6 years and we saw no severe side effects of casualties arising from the treatment. We conclude that EDTA chelation therapy is safe, effective and cost saving.
Introduction
Intravenous administration of ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) has been used from the beginning of the 1950’s by an increasing number of physicians throughout the world for the treatment of arteriosclerosis. In the last few years, there has been increasing criticism of surgical intervention in this disease, since it fails to prolong life, and is a temporary solution in treating a generalized, chronic condition (1). In addition, surgery damages vital tissue by means of reperfusion-released free radical bursts (2,3). Evidence for effectiveness of EDTA chelation therapy is cumulative over many years. (4-9), and the recent association of iron in the etiology of cardiovascular disease (10) makes the technique worthy of complete acceptance today.
It has been proved effective in a number of clinical trials 911-16). The impact of oxidative processes on age-related illness is a relatively new science, which began in the late fifties. The impact of oxygen derived free radicals on the occurrence of reperfusion damage is well documented (2-5,8,9). That the method is ignored here in Denmark may be due to lack of understanding of importance of these processes.
Another possible explanation may be the harsh attitude of the Danish vascular surgeons from the first introduction of chelation therapy in Denmark in 1987. A study of 153 patients with claudication was published in three different journals in 1991 and 1992 (17-19). This study, which is seriously defective, has been publicly opposed (20,21). It is the only existing study that did not show a significant benefit from EDTA therapy. The results were better in the treatment group, but the effect was reportedly not statistically significant.
Materials and Methods
This study included 470 patients with claudication and/or angina pectoris, who received at least 15 treatments. There were 159 women and 311 men. Of these, 206 were older than 69 years, 92 between 65 and 69, 90 between 60 and 64, and 82 under 60 years. Diagnosis was verified by systolic ankle-arm blood pressure index (Doppler technique), and by stress test on a treadmill. All were interviewed and examined by a physician before and after treatment.
Method
All patients were given I.V. infusions of 500 ml sterile water with Na2EDTA, 50 mg/Kg (Maximum 3 grams) and the infusion included vitamin C, sodium bicarbonate and magnesium as prescribed in the protocol of the American College for Advancement in Medicine (ACAM) (22). In addition, the patients were provided with an oral high dose vitamin/mineral supplementation without iron and copper, 6 tablets a day. Before treatment, a determination was made of blood hemoglobin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, fasting blood glucose, creatinine, creatinine clearance total and HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, leucocytes, uric acid, sodium and potassium.
All patients were counseled by both verbal and written communication on the importance of physical exercise, proper nutrition and omitting tobacco. Treatments were administered on an out-patient basis and continued until the patients had a stable clinical situation. The usually required 30 treatments of 3-4 hours duration over a period of 3-4 months. Final assessment was made on completion of treatment and again 2 months later when complete physical examination was repeated.
Patients with claudication had their ankle-arm index, walking distance, foot temperature, pain at rest, skin color of feet and healing of wounds assessed and registered. Subjective judgment of resting pain was rated on a scale from 1-3. Patients with angina pectoris had their working capacity measured on a treadmill, and ST depression by electrocardiogram. Any arrhythmias, blood pressure, body weight and kidney function were noted. The subjective judgment of results was rated on a scale from 1 to 3 with regard to the number of attacks of angina pectoris and consumption of nitroglycerin (1: worse, 2: unchanged _ 10% and 3: improved). Medications, general state of health, energy level, smoking habits, hearing, visual sense and presence of absence of “dizziness” were recorded.
Results
Results of the 470 patients completing treatment are shown in Tables 1 through 5. Table 1 shows the sex distribution and results in 265 patitnes with myocardial ischemia. Of these, 101 over the age of 69 were improved, 6 were the same and one was worse. Of those between 60 and 69 years, 93 were better, 7 unchanged and none were worse. The two patients who were worse were the only ones with angina pectoris who received less than 31 treatments.
In the group with claudication, including 262 patients, we found an improvement in 82%, distributed according to age and sex as shown in Table 2. Table 3 shows the ankle/arm ratios which were improved in 82%. Walking distance, which includes both claudication and myocardial ischemia patients, was improved in 87% of the patients.
Figure 1 shows the numbers of patients threatened with amputation or coronary by-pass surgery before and after EDTA chelation therapy. Several of the patients in claudication group started treatment very late in the course of the illness. Of 44 who had problems with wound healing, 31 improved, 11 were unchanged and 2 became worse. Of 137 who complained of cold feet, 110 improved, 27 were unchanged and none became worse (Table 3)
In the group with angina pectoris, many were so severely disabled that they had been refused bypass surgery, and no other medical treatment was offered. As shown in Table 4, of 253 patients with electrocardiographic S-T depression, 175 showed improvement, 74 were unchanged and 4 had increased S-T depression, 175 showed improvement, 74 were unchanged and 4 had increased S-T depression. The average blood pressure decreased in 109 patients, 37 were unchanged and one had a higher blood pressure. Working capacity was assessed in both myocardial ischemia and claudication patients. This was measured in Joules by computerized ergometry. Of 318 patients undergoing this study, 271 showed improvement (85%).
Table 1
47
WORSE
SAME
BETTER
% IMPROVED
Sex of patient
Female
-
7
69
91%
Male
2
15
172
90%
Age groups
Over 69 yrs
1
6
101
93%
65-69
-
4
48
92%
60-64
1
5
45
86%
Under 60
-
7
47
87%
Referred to:Before chelation
By-Pass
1
7
57
85%
Dilation
-
1
2
67%
No. of Treatments
Less than 31
2
16
144
88%
31-35
-
3
40
93%
36-40
-
1
20
95%
41-50
-
-
30
100%
More than 50
-
2
7
78%
Of 207 patients using nitroglycerine, 189 reduced their consumption. Most of them were able to discontinue its use altogether.
Claus Hancke M.D. received his medical education at the University of Gutenberg, Germany. He is in general practice and operates a clinic for Preventive Medicine and Chelation. He is an ABCT diplomate.
Address correspondence to Claus Hancke, M.D., Lyngby Hovedgade 17,1,DK 0 2800 – LYNGBY, Denmark.
It’s been said that there’s only one disease known to mankind, although it has a thousand names. It’s the disease of too many toxins in the body and too few nutrients reaching the cells. It’s called cancer, arthritis, chronic fatigue, premature aging, and many, many other names. Detoxification plays one of the most important roles …
Today it is imperative for anyone with high blood pressure, heart disease, prostate issues, cardiovascular disease, chronic fatigue, or cancer, to rid the body to undergo heavy metal detox. Heavy metal detox removes toxins such as lead, mercury, aluminum, cadmium and arsenic, have been clinically proven to damage and cause dysfunction in the lining of …
Cookies
This website has updated its privacy policy in compliance with changes to European Union data protection law, for all members globally. Please read this to review the updates about which cookies we use and what information we collect on our site. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our updated privacy policy
Benefits of EDTA Chelation Therapy in Arteriosclerosis: A Retrospective Study of 470 Patients
C. Hancke, MD, and K. Flytlie, MD
ABSTRACT: In a retrospective study we report results of EDTA chelation in 470 patients, using a number of parameters, most of them objective. Although the patients acted as their own controls, we observed improvements of 80-91%, depending upon the measurement used. Of 92 patients referred for surgical intervention, only 10 required ultimate surgery after or during their chelation therapy, thus saving an estimated 3 million dollars of insurance money. Our experience covers a period of 6 years and we saw no severe side effects of casualties arising from the treatment. We conclude that EDTA chelation therapy is safe, effective and cost saving.
Introduction
Intravenous administration of ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) has been used from the beginning of the 1950’s by an increasing number of physicians throughout the world for the treatment of arteriosclerosis. In the last few years, there has been increasing criticism of surgical intervention in this disease, since it fails to prolong life, and is a temporary solution in treating a generalized, chronic condition (1). In addition, surgery damages vital tissue by means of reperfusion-released free radical bursts (2,3). Evidence for effectiveness of EDTA chelation therapy is cumulative over many years. (4-9), and the recent association of iron in the etiology of cardiovascular disease (10) makes the technique worthy of complete acceptance today.
It has been proved effective in a number of clinical trials 911-16). The impact of oxidative processes on age-related illness is a relatively new science, which began in the late fifties. The impact of oxygen derived free radicals on the occurrence of reperfusion damage is well documented (2-5,8,9). That the method is ignored here in Denmark may be due to lack of understanding of importance of these processes.
Another possible explanation may be the harsh attitude of the Danish vascular surgeons from the first introduction of chelation therapy in Denmark in 1987. A study of 153 patients with claudication was published in three different journals in 1991 and 1992 (17-19). This study, which is seriously defective, has been publicly opposed (20,21). It is the only existing study that did not show a significant benefit from EDTA therapy. The results were better in the treatment group, but the effect was reportedly not statistically significant.
Materials and Methods
This study included 470 patients with claudication and/or angina pectoris, who received at least 15 treatments. There were 159 women and 311 men. Of these, 206 were older than 69 years, 92 between 65 and 69, 90 between 60 and 64, and 82 under 60 years. Diagnosis was verified by systolic ankle-arm blood pressure index (Doppler technique), and by stress test on a treadmill. All were interviewed and examined by a physician before and after treatment.
Method
All patients were given I.V. infusions of 500 ml sterile water with Na2EDTA, 50 mg/Kg (Maximum 3 grams) and the infusion included vitamin C, sodium bicarbonate and magnesium as prescribed in the protocol of the American College for Advancement in Medicine (ACAM) (22). In addition, the patients were provided with an oral high dose vitamin/mineral supplementation without iron and copper, 6 tablets a day. Before treatment, a determination was made of blood hemoglobin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, fasting blood glucose, creatinine, creatinine clearance total and HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, leucocytes, uric acid, sodium and potassium.
All patients were counseled by both verbal and written communication on the importance of physical exercise, proper nutrition and omitting tobacco. Treatments were administered on an out-patient basis and continued until the patients had a stable clinical situation. The usually required 30 treatments of 3-4 hours duration over a period of 3-4 months. Final assessment was made on completion of treatment and again 2 months later when complete physical examination was repeated.
Patients with claudication had their ankle-arm index, walking distance, foot temperature, pain at rest, skin color of feet and healing of wounds assessed and registered. Subjective judgment of resting pain was rated on a scale from 1-3. Patients with angina pectoris had their working capacity measured on a treadmill, and ST depression by electrocardiogram. Any arrhythmias, blood pressure, body weight and kidney function were noted. The subjective judgment of results was rated on a scale from 1 to 3 with regard to the number of attacks of angina pectoris and consumption of nitroglycerin (1: worse, 2: unchanged _ 10% and 3: improved). Medications, general state of health, energy level, smoking habits, hearing, visual sense and presence of absence of “dizziness” were recorded.
Results
Results of the 470 patients completing treatment are shown in Tables 1 through 5. Table 1 shows the sex distribution and results in 265 patitnes with myocardial ischemia. Of these, 101 over the age of 69 were improved, 6 were the same and one was worse. Of those between 60 and 69 years, 93 were better, 7 unchanged and none were worse. The two patients who were worse were the only ones with angina pectoris who received less than 31 treatments.
In the group with claudication, including 262 patients, we found an improvement in 82%, distributed according to age and sex as shown in Table 2. Table 3 shows the ankle/arm ratios which were improved in 82%. Walking distance, which includes both claudication and myocardial ischemia patients, was improved in 87% of the patients.
Figure 1 shows the numbers of patients threatened with amputation or coronary by-pass surgery before and after EDTA chelation therapy. Several of the patients in claudication group started treatment very late in the course of the illness. Of 44 who had problems with wound healing, 31 improved, 11 were unchanged and 2 became worse. Of 137 who complained of cold feet, 110 improved, 27 were unchanged and none became worse (Table 3)
In the group with angina pectoris, many were so severely disabled that they had been refused bypass surgery, and no other medical treatment was offered. As shown in Table 4, of 253 patients with electrocardiographic S-T depression, 175 showed improvement, 74 were unchanged and 4 had increased S-T depression, 175 showed improvement, 74 were unchanged and 4 had increased S-T depression. The average blood pressure decreased in 109 patients, 37 were unchanged and one had a higher blood pressure. Working capacity was assessed in both myocardial ischemia and claudication patients. This was measured in Joules by computerized ergometry. Of 318 patients undergoing this study, 271 showed improvement (85%).
Of 207 patients using nitroglycerine, 189 reduced their consumption. Most of them were able to discontinue its use altogether.
Claus Hancke M.D. received his medical education at the University of Gutenberg, Germany. He is in general practice and operates a clinic for Preventive Medicine and Chelation. He is an ABCT diplomate.
Address correspondence to Claus Hancke, M.D., Lyngby Hovedgade 17,1,DK 0 2800 – LYNGBY, Denmark.
1993 Human Sciences PPress,
Related Posts
The Lymphatic and Your Internal Anti-Aging System
It’s been said that there’s only one disease known to mankind, although it has a thousand names. It’s the disease of too many toxins in the body and too few nutrients reaching the cells. It’s called cancer, arthritis, chronic fatigue, premature aging, and many, many other names. Detoxification plays one of the most important roles …
EDTA Chelation and Cardiovascular Disease
Today it is imperative for anyone with high blood pressure, heart disease, prostate issues, cardiovascular disease, chronic fatigue, or cancer, to rid the body to undergo heavy metal detox. Heavy metal detox removes toxins such as lead, mercury, aluminum, cadmium and arsenic, have been clinically proven to damage and cause dysfunction in the lining of …