Disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate: adverse effects in dialyzed children

The present report describes untoward effects of disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) in three of six pediatric patients treated with continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis, in whom this agent was infused intravenously to lower serum ionized calcium levels during dynamic testing of parathyroid gland function. Patients developed an influenza-like syndrome characterized by fever rhinorrhea, cough, sneezing, and lacrimation. All symptoms disappeared within 24 h. A similar degree of hypocalcemia was induced with sodium citrate, an alternative hypocalcemic agent, in the same patients without side effects. Sodium citrate, rather than EDTA, should be used to induce hypocalcemia when assessing parathyroid gland dynamics in children with end-stage renal disease.