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Chronic Toxic Metal Exposure and Cardiovascular Disease: Mechanisms of Risk and Emerging Role of Chelation Therapy

  • Nonstatin Drugs (E. deGoma, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Over the last few decades, there has been a growing body of epidemiologic evidence linking chronic toxic metal exposure to cardiovascular disease-related morbidity and mortality. The recent and unexpectedly positive findings from a randomized, double-blind, multicenter trial of metal chelation for the secondary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (Trial to Assess Chelation Therapy (TACT)) have focused the discussion on the role of chronic exposure to toxic metals in the development and propagation of cardiovascular disease and the role of toxic metal chelation therapy in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. This review summarizes the most recent evidence linking chronic toxic metal exposure to cardiovascular disease and examines the findings of TACT.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai Medical Center, 4300 Alton Road, Miami Beach, FL, USA

    Ehimen C. Aneni & Gervasio A. Lamas

  2. Columbia University Division of Cardiology, Mount Sinai Medical Center, 4300 Alton Road, Suite # 2070A, Miami Beach, FL, 33140, USA

    Esteban Escolar & Gervasio A. Lamas

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  1. Ehimen C. Aneni
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Ehimen C. Aneni and Esteban Escolar declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Gervasio A. Lamas declares grant support from the NIH for the Trial to Assess Chelation Therapy (TACT).

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Aneni, E.C., Escolar, E. & Lamas, G.A. Chronic Toxic Metal Exposure and Cardiovascular Disease: Mechanisms of Risk and Emerging Role of Chelation Therapy. Curr Atheroscler Rep 18, 81 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11883-016-0631-0

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