Chelation therapy in nickel poisoning.

For the treatment of acute poisoning from the inhalation of nickel carbonyl, sodium diethyldithiocarbamate (Dithiocarb) has proved to be a specific antidote; tetraethylthiuram (Antabuse) is effective to a lesser degree; d-penicillamine and dimercaprol (BAL) have limited therapeutic value. For the treatment of nickel eczema and dermatitis, favorable response has been obtained by placing patients on a diet of low nickel content together with the oral administration of Dithiocarb or Antabuse. No specific therapy has been advanced for the treatment of nickel cancer in humans. In experimental animals, Dithiocarb has an inhibitory effect on the production of rat rhabdomyosarcomas induced by the intramuscular implantation of nickel subsulfide, and N-methyl formamide inhibits the growth of transplantable nickel fibromas in rats. It is suggested that for the treatment of tumors arising from the implantations of nickel-containing prostheses in humans, chelation therapy be considered.