Document e7kVKo6bd7M5nayLE1Eno2XV4

W E B S TE R 3-6111 R I K E R L A B O R A T O R I E S . INC LOS ANGELES. C A L IF O R N IA iAiaaC jxzaialtU s M A IL A D D R E S S : P. O. BOX 3157 T E R M IN A L ANNEX LOS ANOELES 5 4. C A LIFO R N IA July 28, 1953 AIR KAIL Robert A. Kehoe, K. D. The Kettering Laboratory College of Medicine Cincinnati 19, Ohio Lear Dr. Kehoe: Thank you for your fine long letter of July 23 I agree with you that there are many aspects of this business of EDTA in lead poisoning that remain unresolved and I also agree with your hops that we may come up with some answers in the not too distant future. I an, however, encouraged by the good reports that I have re ceived concerning the use of EDTA in lead encephalopathy in children, at least. With regard to the oral use of EDTA, as you know the problem has been one of absorption. Animal studies indicate that absorption is rather limited but as you have seen from Dr. Sidbury's report, there is evidence that lead excretion may be improved by the oral use of EDTA. I shall send you an initial supply of 1,000 tablets of Calcium Disodium IDTA. Each tablet contains 250 mg., and I think the dosage program used by Dr. Sidbury is a reasonable one, I think our problems with the oral use of EDTA are two-fold-- the first to confirm the fact that it is able to produce a significant and worth while increase in lead excretion; and second, if this proves to be the case, to establish the field of usefulness of the agent for this use. I am sure we must be very cautious not to advocate a program which might be used as a substitute for good preventive hygiene. I am happy to be able to announce that Calcium Disodium Versenate has now been released by the FDA for general distribution for intravenous use. We felt that our data on its oral use were not yet adequate to request release. I hope that with the increased use of the material that should follow its general availability, we may come up with some better answers to the question you pose about its relative efficacy in the relief of symptoms when given intravenously.I I can fully sympathize with your difficulty in getting the data of the Panama cases. As you can well imagine, I often encounter difficulties of this sort trying to obtain good data which I know exists. I appreciate your willingness to share with us the high-points when they do finally reach your hands. #- N977X Robert A. Kehoe, M. D. -2 .Juj v Thanlcs again for your nice letter and the challenging question r I can be of any help to you, please feel free to write to me. Sincerely yours, RIKER LABORATORIES, IRC/ t / l ' 1' ' 1 !r Eyii:mp Norman . Karr, K. U. Director, Clinical lieno/if'R 0008328