NIH National Study Testing Chelation Therapy for Heart Disease Under Way at International Medical Clinics (IMC) Atlanta, Georgia
NIH National Study Testing Chelation Therapy for Heart Disease Under Way at International Medical Clinics (IMC) Atlanta, Georgia for people over 50 with a history of heart attack.
Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) March 6, 2005 -- International Medical Clinics (IMC) is
seeking men and women age 50 and older who have had a heart attack to join a
National Institutes of Health (NIH) study on the effectiveness and safety of an
investigational treatment for heart disease. The investigational treatment is a
combination of chelation therapy and high-dose vitamin therapy compared with
placebo (inactive treatment).
International Medical Clinics (IMC) is one
of more than 100 medical institutions across the country selected to take part
in the Chelation Therapy Study, the largest clinical research study to evaluate
the therapy's effectiveness and safety as a treatment for heart disease.
Chelation (pronounced key-LAY-shun) therapy is an investigational
therapy using a man-made amino acid, called EDTA (ethylene diamine tetra-acetic
acid). It is added to the blood through a vein. A national research study is now
testing whether chelation therapy is safe and effective for treating heart
disease.
“Many people are considering using chelation therapy because of
the belief that it may treat heart disease. However, this has not been
scientifically proven. Past studies did not show benefit, but may have been too
small to be conclusive," said Dr.Lisa Merritt. "We are committed to working with
the NIH to find the answer to this important public health question."
The
study is more than 20 times larger than any previous study of chelation therapy
and is designed to be large enough to detect even moderate benefits associated
with this therapy.
Coronary artery disease – the most common form of
heart disease – is the leading cause of death of Americans, affecting more than
7 million people and killing 500,000 people each year. It occurs when the
arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle (coronary arteries) become
hardened and narrowed. The arteries harden and become narrow due to the buildup
of fatty materials like cholesterol, called plaque, on the inner walls or lining
of the arteries (atherosclerosis). Blood flow to the heart is reduced as plaque
narrows the coronary arteries. This decreases the oxygen supply to the heart
muscle. In a heart attack, a blood clot forms on the plaque and completely
blocks flow through the artery.
Study participants will be assigned
randomly (by chance, like flipping a coin) to receive a standardized chelation
solution or a placebo (inactive) solution over a period of 28 months. Because
chelation therapy may also remove important vitamins and minerals the body
needs, all study participants will take low-dose vitamin and mineral
supplements. In addition, some participants will receive a high-dose vitamin and
mineral supplement. The study will also evaluate whether high-dose vitamins and
minerals are helpful. Neither the participants nor the researchers administering
the treatment will know which of the four treatment combinations is being given.
Using this process to assign people to treatment groups means that the groups
will be as similar as possible and that the treatments they receive can be
compared objectively.
Those who join the study will be part of a
nationwide effort to help the medical community find new and effective
treatments for heart disease. In addition, their health will be closely
monitored while they are enrolled in the study.
There are some potential
risks and side effects to chelation therapy. The most common side effect is a
burning sensation at the site where the EDTA is delivered into the veins. Rare
side effects can include fever, headache, nausea, and vomiting. Even more rare
are serious side effects that can include a sudden drop in blood pressure,
abnormally low calcium levels in the blood, permanent kidney damage, and bone
marrow depression (meaning that blood cell counts fall). Reversible injury to
the kidneys, although infrequent, has been reported with EDTA chelation therapy.
Other serious side effects can occur if EDTA is not administered by a trained
health professional.
Those interested in learning more about the study
can call 678-547-0000 or visit http://www.intlmedicalclinics.com
Contact: Lisa
Merritt M.D.
International Medical Clinics (IMC)
TEL:
(678)547-0000
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/3/prweb215307.htm