Why the NIH Trial to Assess Chelation Therapy (TACT) Should Be Abandoned

ECG = electrocardiogram
*Described in text
From the 2003 TACT protocol.^[5] The asterisks, designating "described in text," are present in the original and refer to descriptions of 3 of the reports on pages 7-8 of the protocol. Reports with reference numbers in superscript are discussed in this article.

ECG = electrocardiogram
*Described in text
From the 2003 TACT protocol.^[5] The asterisks, designating "described in text," are present in the original and refer to descriptions of 3 of the reports on pages 7-8 of the protocol. Reports with reference numbers in superscript are discussed in this article.

ECG = electrocardiogram
*Described in text
From the 2003 TACT protocol.^[5] The asterisks, designating "described in text," are present in the original and refer to descriptions of 3 of the reports on pages 7-8 of the protocol. Reports with reference numbers in superscript are discussed in this article.

ECG = electrocardiogram
*Described in text
From the 2003 TACT protocol.^[5] The asterisks, designating "described in text," are present in the original and refer to descriptions of 3 of the reports on pages 7-8 of the protocol. Reports with reference numbers in superscript are discussed in this article.

ECG = electrocardiogram
*Described in text
From the 2003 TACT protocol.^[5] The asterisks, designating "described in text," are present in the original and refer to descriptions of 3 of the reports on pages 7-8 of the protocol. Reports with reference numbers in superscript are discussed in this article.

ECG = electrocardiogram
*Described in text
From the 2003 TACT protocol.^[5] The asterisks, designating "described in text," are present in the original and refer to descriptions of 3 of the reports on pages 7-8 of the protocol. Reports with reference numbers in superscript are discussed in this article.

ECG = electrocardiogram
*Described in text
From the 2003 TACT protocol.^[5] The asterisks, designating "described in text," are present in the original and refer to descriptions of 3 of the reports on pages 7-8 of the protocol. Reports with reference numbers in superscript are discussed in this article.

ECG = electrocardiogram
*Described in text
From the 2003 TACT protocol.^[5] The asterisks, designating "described in text," are present in the original and refer to descriptions of 3 of the reports on pages 7-8 of the protocol. Reports with reference numbers in superscript are discussed in this article.

ECG = electrocardiogram
*Described in text
From the 2003 TACT protocol.^[5] The asterisks, designating "described in text," are present in the original and refer to descriptions of 3 of the reports on pages 7-8 of the protocol. Reports with reference numbers in superscript are discussed in this article.

ECG = electrocardiogram
*Described in text
From the 2003 TACT protocol.^[5] The asterisks, designating "described in text," are present in the original and refer to descriptions of 3 of the reports on pages 7-8 of the protocol. Reports with reference numbers in superscript are discussed in this article.

ECG = electrocardiogram
*Described in text
From the 2003 TACT protocol.^[5] The asterisks, designating "described in text," are present in the original and refer to descriptions of 3 of the reports on pages 7-8 of the protocol. Reports with reference numbers in superscript are discussed in this article.

ECG = electrocardiogram
*Described in text
From the 2003 TACT protocol.^[5] The asterisks, designating "described in text," are present in the original and refer to descriptions of 3 of the reports on pages 7-8 of the protocol. Reports with reference numbers in superscript are discussed in this article.

ECG = electrocardiogram
*Described in text
From the 2003 TACT protocol.^[5] The asterisks, designating "described in text," are present in the original and refer to descriptions of 3 of the reports on pages 7-8 of the protocol. Reports with reference numbers in superscript are discussed in this article.

ECG = electrocardiogram
*Described in text
From the 2003 TACT protocol.^[5] The asterisks, designating "described in text," are present in the original and refer to descriptions of 3 of the reports on pages 7-8 of the protocol. Reports with reference numbers in superscript are discussed in this article.

ECG = electrocardiogram
*Described in text
From the 2003 TACT protocol.^[5] The asterisks, designating "described in text," are present in the original and refer to descriptions of 3 of the reports on pages 7-8 of the protocol. Reports with reference numbers in superscript are discussed in this article.

ECG = electrocardiogram
*Described in text
From the 2003 TACT protocol.^[5] The asterisks, designating "described in text," are present in the original and refer to descriptions of 3 of the reports on pages 7-8 of the protocol. Reports with reference numbers in superscript are discussed in this article.

ECG = electrocardiogram
*Described in text
From the 2003 TACT protocol.^[5] The asterisks, designating "described in text," are present in the original and refer to descriptions of 3 of the reports on pages 7-8 of the protocol. Reports with reference numbers in superscript are discussed in this article.

ECG = electrocardiogram
*Described in text
From the 2003 TACT protocol.^[5] The asterisks, designating "described in text," are present in the original and refer to descriptions of 3 of the reports on pages 7-8 of the protocol. Reports with reference numbers in superscript are discussed in this article.

ECG = electrocardiogram
*Described in text
From the 2003 TACT protocol.^[5] The asterisks, designating "described in text," are present in the original and refer to descriptions of 3 of the reports on pages 7-8 of the protocol. Reports with reference numbers in superscript are discussed in this article.

ECG = electrocardiogram
*Described in text
From the 2003 TACT protocol.^[5] The asterisks, designating "described in text," are present in the original and refer to descriptions of 3 of the reports on pages 7-8 of the protocol. Reports with reference numbers in superscript are discussed in this article.

AAMP = American Academy of Medical Preventics; ECG = electrocardiogram

AAMP = American Academy of Medical Preventics; CAD = coronary artery disease; ECG = electrocardiogram; ETT = exercise tolerance test; PVD = peripheral vascular disease

ECG = electrocardiogram
*Described in text
From the 2003 TACT protocol.^[5] The asterisks, designating "described in text," are present in the original and refer to descriptions of 3 of the reports on pages 7-8 of the protocol. Reports with reference numbers in superscript are discussed in this article.

AAMP = American Academy of Medical Preventics; ECG = electrocardiogram

AAMP = American Academy of Medical Preventics; CAD = coronary artery disease; ECG = electrocardiogram; ETT = exercise tolerance test; PVD = peripheral vascular disease

AAMP = American Academy of Medical Preventics; ECG = electrocardiogram

ECG = electrocardiogram
*Described in text
From the 2003 TACT protocol.^[5] The asterisks, designating "described in text," are present in the original and refer to descriptions of 3 of the reports on pages 7-8 of the protocol. Reports with reference numbers in superscript are discussed in this article.

AAMP = American Academy of Medical Preventics; CAD = coronary artery disease; ECG = electrocardiogram; ETT = exercise tolerance test; PVD = peripheral vascular disease

ECG = electrocardiogram
*Described in text
From the 2003 TACT protocol.^[5] The asterisks, designating "described in text," are present in the original and refer to descriptions of 3 of the reports on pages 7-8 of the protocol. Reports with reference numbers in superscript are discussed in this article.

ECG = electrocardiogram
*Described in text
From the 2003 TACT protocol.^[5] The asterisks, designating "described in text," are present in the original and refer to descriptions of 3 of the reports on pages 7-8 of the protocol. Reports with reference numbers in superscript are discussed in this article.

ECG = electrocardiogram
*Described in text
From the 2003 TACT protocol.^[5] The asterisks, designating "described in text," are present in the original and refer to descriptions of 3 of the reports on pages 7-8 of the protocol. Reports with reference numbers in superscript are discussed in this article.

ECG = electrocardiogram
*Described in text
From the 2003 TACT protocol.^[5] The asterisks, designating "described in text," are present in the original and refer to descriptions of 3 of the reports on pages 7-8 of the protocol. Reports with reference numbers in superscript are discussed in this article.

Authors and Disclosures

Kimball C. Atwood IV, MD, Anesthesiologist, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Newton, Massachusetts; Assistant Clinical Professor, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts; Associate Editor, Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine
Author's email: katwood@partners.org

Elizabeth Woeckner, AB, MA, President, CIRCARE (Citizens for Responsible Care and Research), Columbia, Maryland

Robert S. Baratz, MD, DDS, PhD, Medical Director, South Shore Health Center, Inc., Braintree, Massachusetts; Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts; President, National Council Against Health Fraud, Inc.

Wallace I. Sampson, MD, Clinical Professor of Medicine (Emeritus), Stanford University, Stanford, California; Senior Attending Physician and formerly Chief of Medical Oncology, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, San Jose, California; Editor-in-Chief, Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine

Disclosure: Kimball C. Atwood IV, MD, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships in addition to his employment.

Disclosure: Elizabeth Woeckner, AB, MA, has disclosed that she has received compensation for consulting in civil litigation and professional disciplinary actions.

Disclosure: Robert S. Baratz, MD, DDS, PhD, has disclosed that he has been retained by state licensing boards, the Office of the US Attorney, and plaintiff counsel as an expert in disciplinary proceedings and litigation with regard to chelation therapy and associated matters. He is compensated only for his time and has no commercial interest in the outcome of the proceedings or litigation.

Disclosure: Wallace I. Sampson, MD, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships in addition to his employment.