Dimercaptosuccinic acid, or DMSA, is a chelating agent. Its full chemical name is meso 2,3-dimecaptosuccinic acid and its empirical formula is C4H6O4S2. Its molecular weight is 182.2.
DMSA is a white crystaline powder with an unpleasant but characteristic mercaptor odour and taste.
It is used to transfer mercury and other heavy metals safely into the urine for excretion. DMSA can cross the blood-brain barrier, and thus is useful for extracting heavy metals from the brain.
DMSA is also called succimer, and is sold under the brand name Chemet®.
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
It uses material from the
"Dimercaptosuccinic acid".
Home Page • arts • business • computers • games • health • hospitals • home • kids & teens • news • physicians • recreation• reference • regional • science • shopping • society • sports • world