Dimercaptosuccinic Acid

2,3-Dimercaptosuccinic Acid Powder is indicated for the treatment of lead poisoning in children with blood level measured above 45 µg/dL. The use of 2,3-Dimercaptosuccinic Acid is not approved for prophylactic/prevention of lead poisoning in anticipation of exposure in known lead contaminated environments. Its elimination half-life is 2.5-3.5 h. Dimercaptosuccinic Acid can cross the blood–brain barrier of mice, but not that of humans, limiting its use to extracting heavy metals from parts of the body other than the central nervous system.

Another application for 2,3-Dimercaptosuccinic Acid is for provocation of tissue heavy metals in anticipation of a urine test. This is sometimes called a "challenge" or "provoked" heavy metals test. Dimercaptosuccinic Acid is used to help mobilize heavy metals stored in body tissues (and therefore not typically present in the circulation) and increase the excretion of heavy metals in the urine. In a study by Howard Frumkin et al., this sort of test was shown to not reliably provide an indication of past chronic mercury exposure, something it was often used for. A 2004 study by GP Archbold, et al. called the results of a 2,3-Dimercaptosuccinic Acid challenge test "misleading" for the purposes of diagnosing mercury toxicity. Moreover, 2,3-Dimercaptosuccinic Acid share the limitation of extracellular distribution, which makes it unable to cross the cell membrane and chelate heavy metals from intracellular sites.

The relative activities of a series of novel monoalkyl esters of meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (2,3-Dimercaptosuccinic Acid) have been examined as agents for the mobilization of cadmium, lead and arsenic owing to the ability of these monoesters to cross cell membranes. The monoesters were found to be more effective than the parent compound 2,3-Dimercaptosuccinic Acid.