American College for the Advancement in Medicine Defends Use of FDA Approved Therapy

With insufficient test results available at this time of the recent sad death of an autistic UK boy who was receiving this therapy in the United States, ACAM is not in a position to comment on the circumstances that led to this unfortunate incident.

However, it is important to note that IV EDTA is an FDA approved treatment for lead toxicity in children and adults, with an excellent track record for safety. Millions of infusions have been administered over the last 30 + years, without any deaths being noted, when used in accordance with established guidelines. These guidelines were developed by experts in the field, and include the IV administration of Calcium EDTA, and the more lengthy IV infusion of Magnesium, Disodium EDTA.

Chelation Therapy has been clinically helpful for many autistic children who have evidence of heavy metal burdens, and have an impaired ability for detoxification. In adults, it has been used to treat Arteriosclerotic Vascular Disease; and other chronic degenerative diseases that may be associated with heavy metal burdens. In fact, the TACT study (Trial to Assess Chelation Therapy), has been in progress, with a goal to assess the efficacy of Chelation Therapy in close to 2,400 patients. In launching this NIH sponsored study, the safety of IV EDTA was accepted to have been firmly established.

ACAM supports the safe and appropriate use of Chelation Therapy. ACAM is confident that the use of this treatment, in accordance with established guidelines, will continue to maintain its excellent safety record.

The American College for Advancement in Medicine (ACAM) was founded in 1973, is a 501 (c) (6) not-for-profit medical society dedicated to educating physicians and other health care professionals on the latest findings and emerging procedures in preventive/nutritional medicine. ACAM represents over 1,000 physicians in 30 countries. ACAM is the largest and oldest organization of its kind in the world dedicated exclusively to serving the educational needs of the health professionals. ACAM members follow a Code of Ethics and Rules of Conduct. ACAM holds International Educational Conferences, and the next meeting will be held November 9-13, 2005 in Anaheim, California. The Organization also distributes numerous books and studies to its membership and thousands of medical professionals.

For further information on upcoming ACAM Educational events visit it's website at http://www.acam.org/.

American College for the Advancement in Medicine

CONTACT: Virginia Schoenfeld, Executive Director of ACAM,+1-800-532-3688, Ext. 15