NBC Autism program article

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Chelation treatment for autism

March 3, 2006, 03:52 PM BROOKE HART NBC NEWS

There is a treatment that has been around for decades and it's commonly used to treat lead poisoning, but now some are using it to treat autism. Parents and therapist claim Chelation causes dramatic changes in autistic children’s behavior. Others say there is some controversy surrounding the drug.

Now almost 4-years-old, Josh Shoemaker is not his old self; his parents are happy to say. "It's just not even comparable he's just not the same child," says Angie shoemaker, Josh's mother. Josh was diagnosed with autism a year ago. His parents say josh barely spoke, rarely responded, and he had slid into his own world. Shoemaker, Josh's father says, "He used to spin himself in circles constantly, we were losing him daily." But, within five months, Josh was talking and responsive. The Shoemakers credit a treatment called Chelation outlined in this edition of Mothering Magazine. Josh's parents spread a sulfur-based cream on his skin, a compound they and doctors who prescribe it, say roots out toxins like mercury from the body, toxins they blame for Josh's autism. Dr. Phil Demio prescribes Chelation for autism. "The sulfur grabs onto the mercury like a magnet so our body can excrete it where it would never have the ability to do that on its own without something like this," Dr. Demio says. Authorities are far from consensus about what causes autism, and most doctors see no place for Chelation in dealing with it. Two years ago the Centers for Disease Control commissioned a report that found no evidence of a mercury-autism link. Mercury's effects on children, though, are a concern the FDA. They warn pregnant women to avoid certain fish and they have had a mercury ingredient removed from most vaccines. But, can Chelation, a treatment big insurer’s cover for mercury poisoning, help against autism? One pediatrician cautions that Josh's progress, though dramatic, isn't proof. Pediatrician, Dr. Bill Goldman says, "Why he improved? I don't know. Would he have improved on his own? I don't know, but as of now mercury is not a cause of autism based on the studies we know now and Chelation is not an acceptable form of treatment for autism." Josh's parents and his speech therapist say its proof to them. "Josh is the only child I've ever worked with that I can say ‘he's going go to kindergarten being a perfectly normal kindergartner’ and he was not a perfectly normal 2-year-old. It's Chelation that did it," says McCloskey, Josh’s speech language therapist. "It's like he went from his world, into ours," Angie Shoemaker says. A joyful relief for Josh's parents convinced that they found the solution for him. The drug is FDA approved, but only to treat lead poisoning. Federal researchers are also looking into whether Chelation can help heart patients by draining calcium from clogged arteries. http://www.kfor.com/Global/story.asp?S=4582318