Abstract

Introduction

Materials & Methods

Results

Discussion & Conclusion

References

Discussion
Board

EDTA is a chelator for metal ions that has found widespread application in modern medicine and pharmacy. It is used for the treatment of heavy-metal poisoning (such as, lead, cadmium, nickel, mercury), as an anticoagulant, and as a non-specific inhibitor of discrete enzymes, such as serum-stimulated lipoprotein lipase. It is also often used in analytical chemistry for complexometric titrations and many other purposes. However, few studies have examined the cytotoxic side-effects of EDTA when added to biological samples upon various laboratory analyses. The secondary effects of addition of EDTA (to a final concentration of 20mmol/L), to inhibit complement system activation in human breast-milk samples, were examined, using different laboratory techniques and methods, compared to same milk samples with equivalent volumes of PBS added. The present study describes some of the toxic effects of EDTA on the cellular elements of human breastmilk when used as an inhibitor of complement activation. The toxic effect of EDTA included breastmilk cell loss, distruption of milk fat globule membrane, and release of free fat and membrane-bound protein, and reduction in pH. It also caused false positive results of hemolytic assays.

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Poster Number PAogundele0175
Keywords: Toxicity, EDTA, human breast-milk