Dimercaprol
ATC Code
V03AB09
Dimercaprol
Definition
A metal chelating agent that is used as an antidote in arsenic, gold, lead, mercury and other heavy metal poisoning. Metals form ligands in the body with the sulfhydryl groups of the pyruvate-oxidase enzyme system. This leads to an inhibition of the normal functioning of these enzymes that are dependent on free sulfhydryl groups for their activity. Dimercaprol reverses the enzyme inhibition by chelating the metal and regenerates free sulfhydryl groups, thereby preventing and reversing the metals toxic effects.
Also known as 1,2-Dithioglycerol, 2,3-Dimercapto-1-propanol, BAL in Oil, DIMERCAPROL — per NCIT
Also identified as
- ATC V03AB09 per RXNORM
- NCIT NCIT:C47494 per NCIT
- SCTID 13664004 per RXNORM
- SCTID 387077001 per RXNORM
- UNII 0CPP32S55X per RXNORM
Indications
| Disease | Relation | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Fetal methylmercury syndrome | may treat | MEDRT · Public domain (U.S. Government work) |
| Lead poisoning | may treat | MEDRT · Public domain (U.S. Government work) |