pentetic acid

Action and Spectrum

Actions and Spectrum: 

Action: 

Medical Use: pentetic acid is used as a chelating agent in medical settings to facilitate the elimination of specific metal ions from the body.  

Radiopharmaceuticals: pentetic acid is utilized in radiopharmaceuticals, forming stable complexes with radionuclides. These complexes can be used for imaging and therapeutic purposes in nuclear medicine. 

Drug Interaction

Adverse Reaction

Frequency not defined  

Itching 

Rash 

Allergic reactions 

Black Box Warning

Black Box Warning:  

None

Contraindication / Caution

Contraindication/Caution:  

Hypersensitivity: Individuals with known hypersensitivity or allergy to pentetic acid or any components should avoid its use. 

Renal Impairment: pentetic acid is primarily eliminated through the kidneys. Patients with severe renal impairment or kidney dysfunction may experience decreased clearance of the chelating agent, potentially leading to increased levels in the body and an increased risk of adverse effects. 

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: The safety of pentetic acid use during pregnancy and breastfeeding is not well established. It is commonly advised to refrain from utilizing it during such periods, unless the potential advantages outweigh the potential risks, and solely under the guidance of a medical professional. 

Neurological Disorders: pentetic acid’s ability to chelate metals can potentially impact the body’s balance of other essential metals. Individuals with certain neurological disorders that involve metal imbalances may need to be cautious when using pentetic acid. 

Children: The use of pentetic acid in pediatric populations requires careful consideration due to the potential impact on growth and development. Pediatric patients should only receive pentetic acid under the close supervision of a healthcare professional. 

Pregnancy / Lactation

Pregnancy warnings:     

Pregnancy category: N/A 

Lactation: Excreted into human milk is unknown 

Pregnancy Categories:         

Category A: Studies that were well-controlled and met expectations revealed no risk to the fetus in either the first or second trimester. 

<b>Category B: There were a lack of studies on pregnant women and no evidence of risk to the fetus in animal experiments.   

Category C: there was evidence of risk of adverse effects in animal reproduction studies, and no adequate evidence in human studies must take care of potential risks in pregnant women.    

Category D: adequate data with sufficient evidence of human fetal risk from various platforms, but despite the potential risk, and used only in emergency cases for potential benefits.   

Category X: Drugs listed in this category outweigh the risks over benefits. Hence these categories of drugs need to be avoided by pregnant women.    

Category N: There is no data available for the drug under this category

Pharmacology

Pharmacology:  

pentetic acid, or diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), is a chelating agent used in medical and industrial applications. 

Pharmacodynamics:  

pentetic acid works as a chelating agent by forming strong, stable complexes with metal ions, particularly divalent and trivalent ions such as calcium (Ca2+), zinc (Zn2+), iron (Fe2+/Fe3+), and others. The central amine and carboxylic acid groups in the pentetic acid molecule provide multiple sites for coordination with metal ions. This chelation process forms water-soluble complexes, which can be excreted from the body through the urine.  

Pharmacokinetics: 

Absorption 

pentetic acid is not absorbed significantly when taken orally. Its absorption through the gastrointestinal tract is very limited, and it’s primarily used as an intravenous or intramuscular injection. 

Distribution 

pentetic acid is a water-soluble molecule and tends to distribute throughout the extracellular fluids in the body. It doesn’t have specific tissue targeting and is distributed relatively uniformly. 

Metabolism 

pentetic acid is not metabolized to a significant extent.  

Excretion and Elimination 

pentetic acid is primarily excreted unchanged through the kidneys. It has a relatively short plasma half-life of around 20 to 60 minutes in humans. The renal excretion process helps eliminate pentetic acid and any metal complexes it forms in the body. 

Adminstartion

Administration:  

pentetic acid can be administered through various routes, depending on the specific medical condition and treatment goals. Typical routes include intravenous (IV) and intramuscular (IM) injections. 

Patient Information Leaflet

Patient information leaflet 

Generic Name: pentetic acid 

Why do we use pentetic acid?  

Medical Applications: 

Radiopharmaceuticals: pentetic acid is used in radiopharmaceuticals for imaging and diagnosing certain medical conditions. It can chelate radioactive isotopes and facilitate their binding to specific biological molecules, allowing for targeted imaging of organs and tissues.