A drug that belongs to the family of drugs called chemoprotective agents. OR A synthetic derivative of dithio-ethane sulfonate with uroprotective properties. In the kidney, dimesna undergoes reduction to the free thiol compound, mesna, which reacts chemically with the urotoxic ifosfamide metabolites acrolein and 4-hydroxy-ifosfamide, resulting in their detoxification. This agent also inhibits cyclophosphamide-induced hemorrhagic cystitis.