Is Chelation Therapy The Right Treatment Procedure For Blocked Heart Arteries?

Posted on Mon, 30 Mar 2015

Question: Hi,
My Father(age 47) just had angiography test which shows blockage in 3 arteries - 90%(main artery), 70%, 60%.

He is now considering Chelation Therapy from hospital named Heart Sanjinvani Center (http://heartssanjivani.org/services/chelation-therapy/).

After reading a lot on internet, it sounds to me that this is not a "full-proof" method for heart disease and may cause serious side-effects.

I have the following questions regarding this-
1. How much safe this method is?
2. What are the possible side-effects?
3. How effective this therapy is?
4. How would you compare it with bypass surgery in terms of the above three criteria(safety, risks, effectiveness)?

I am totally confused if this therapy is safe or not. Please help.

Thanks,
XXXXXX
YYYY@YYYY

P.S. : He does not smoke/drink and does not have any liver/kidney/diabetes problems. Sometimes, his Blood pressure is higher than usual...thats it.

Answered by Dr. Sukhvinder Singh (45 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Chelation therapy is not a standard.

Detailed Answer:
Dear Mr XXXXXXX
It would be great if you can share/ upload the actual report of both coronary angiogram as well as stress thallium. As per current medical guidelines, coronary artery disease has only three management options. These are
1. Life style modification + optimal medical therapy
2. Life style modification + optimal medical therapy + angioplasty
3. Life style modification + optimal medical therapy + Bypass surgery.
There is currently no role for chelation therapy as per standard literature in management of coronary artery disease.
As i could read in your other queries his stress thallium was normal. In such cases if the site of blockade is not critical and patient does not have marked symptoms, medical management is best option. Please upload the reports and details of his symptoms/ trouble.
Sincerely
Sukhvinder

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Pradeep Vitta

Follow up: Dr. Sukhvinder Singh (40 hours later)

Please find attached the angiography and the stress thallium test reports. Please advise what should be done. Thanks.

Answered by Dr. Sukhvinder Singh (8 hours later)

Brief Answer:
please see detail

Detailed Answer:
Dear Sir
1. The angiography report says there are significant lesions in distal LAD, mid PDA ramus and OM2. OM2 is a small vessel.
2. Thallium test shows excellent exercise capacity. Mild provocable ischemia in two segments.
In these circumstances, medical management alone or PTCA to two vessels are treatment options.
I recommend you to consult a good clinical cardiologist and seek a second opinion. As per standard literature, doing PTCA (angioplasty) in such patients is only useful when patient has debilitating angina effecting day-to-day work. There is no difference on longevity or occurrence of heart attack in future in these two management strategies. I usually go for medical management in such patients and if they do not respond, only then, I go for angioplasty. However decision is always taken on individual basis after consulting the family. Hence I strongly recommend a second opinion from another cardiologist of your choice.
sincerely
Sukhvinder

Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar