US EPA

1032516 

Journal Article 

2,3-Dithioerythritol, a possible new arsenic antidote 

Boyd, VL; Harbell, JW; O'Connor, RJ; Mcgown, EL 

1989 

Yes 

Chemical Research in Toxicology
ISSN: 0893-228X
EISSN: 1520-5010 

NIOSH/00191385 

2 

5 

301-306 

English 

2562424 

10.1021/tx00011a006 

WOS:A1989AT85700006 

British antilewisite (2,3-dimercaptopropanol; BAL) has long been used as an arsenic antidote, but its therapeutic efficacy is limited by its inherent toxicity. We synthesized two less toxic derivatives of BAL and investigated their potential as antidotes to organic arsenic. The new compounds, 2,3-dithioerythritol (DTE) and 2,2-dimethyl-4-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-dithiolane (isopropylidene derivative of BAL), react readily with phenyldichloroarsine (PDA) to yield the expected corresponding cyclic 1,3-dithioarsolanes. The BAL derivatives were compared to BAL in terms of their cytotoxicity and their ability to rescue PDA-poisoned mouse lymphoma cells in culture. The dithiolane was not a good antidote in the cultured cell system. In contrast, DTE was less toxic than BAL or DMSA and was superior at improving cell survival in PDA-exposed cells. 

DCN-186807; Arsenic compounds; Arsenic poisoning; Medical treatment; Drug therapy; Drugs; Metabolic study; Chelating agents; Toxic effects