- Articles - Title: The beneficial effect of amalgam replacement on health in patients with autoimmunity
- Articles - Abstract:
Prochazkova J, et al. Neuroendocrinology Letters 2004;25(3):211-218
This study examines the health impact of amalgam replacement in mercury-allergic patients with autoimmunity. The suitability of MELISA for the selection of susceptible patients and monitoring of sensitization was also examined. Amalgam fillings, which were the single restorative material in the patients’ teeth, were replaced with composites and ceramic materials. Follow-up health status and lymphocyte reactivity were assessed and evaluated half a year or later following amalgam removal. MELISA indicated that in vitro reactivity after the replacement of dental amalgam decreased significantly to inorganic mercury, silver, organic mercury and lead. Out of 35 patients, 71% showed improvement of health. The remaining patients exhibited either unchanged health or worsening of symptoms. The highest rate of improvement was observed in patients with multiple sclerosis, the lowest rate was noted in patients with eczema.
- Articles - Download: The-beneficial-effects-of-amalgam-replacment-Mercury-and-autoimmunity.pdf
- Articles - Title: Validity of MELISA® for metal sensitivity testing
- Articles - Abstract:
Valentine-Thon E, Schiwara HW, Neuroendocrinology Letters 2003; 24(1/2):57-64
OBJECTIVE: This study was carried out to evaluate the reproducibility, sensitivity, specificity, and reliability of the MELISA® Test for detecting metal sensitivity in patients with clinical symptoms of a type IV hypersensitivity to metal. DESIGN: Blood from 250 patients was tested in MELISA® against up to 20 different metals in 2 to 3 concentrations. The frequency and distribution of metal reactivities, the sensitivity and specificity of nickel reactivity in patients with and without confirmed or suspected sensitivity to nickel, and the roles of lymphocyte concentration and concentration of inorganic mercury were analyzed. In addition, for reproducibility testing, 196 metal tests were performed in duplicate, and intra- and interassay variations of MELISA® results were examined in patients patch-test positive for the relevant metal. RESULTS: Among the 250 patients, reactivity to 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or ≥ 5 metals was 26%, 36%, 15%, 12%, 6%, and 5%, respectively. Reactivity was most frequent to nickel (73%), followed by titanium (42%), cadmium (18%) gold (17%), palladium (13%), lead (11%), beryllium (9%), inorganic mercury (8%), tin (8%), and phenylmercury (6%). All patients (n=15) with confirmed or suspected nickel allergy were positive in MELISA®, while patients with no suspicion of nickel allergy were either negative (n=6) or very low positive (n=4) in MELISA® . MELISA® reactivity is directly dependent on lymphocyte concentration: the higher the lymphocyte concentration per test, the stronger the reactivity. Concentrations of inorganic mercury > 0.5 μg/ml cause non antigen-specifi c (mitogenic) reactions in a majority of patients. The reproducibility rate was 94% using a cut-off of Stimulation Index ≥ 3 or 99% using a cut-off of ≥ 5. While the absolute intra- and interassay Stimulation Index values may vary, the qualitative results are highly reproducible. CONCLUSION: The MELISA® Test is reproducible, sensitive, specific, and reliable for detecting metal sensitivity in metal-sensitive patients.
- Articles - Download: Validity-of-MELISA.pdf
- Articles - Title: Removal of dental amalgam and other metal alloys supported by antioxidant therapy alleviates symptoms and improves quality of life in patients with amalgam-associated ill health
- Articles - Abstract:
Lindh U, et al. Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2002;23(5-6):459-82.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate treatment of patients suffering from chronic ill health with a multitude of symptoms associated with metal exposure from dental amalgam and other metal alloys.Treatment of the patients by removal of offending dental metals and concomitant antioxidant therapy was implemented according to the Uppsala model based on a close co-operation between physicians and dentists. More than 70% of the responders, remaining after exclusion of those who had not begun or completed removal, reported substantial recovery and increased quality of life. Comparison with similar studies showed accordance of the main results. Plasma concentrations of mercury before and after treatment supported the metal exposure to be causative for the ill health.
- Articles - Download: removal-of-dental-amalgam-improves.pdf
- Articles - Title: Nickel allergy is found in a majority of women with chronic fatigue syndrome and muscle pain – and may be triggered by cigarette smoke and dietary nickel intake
- Articles - Abstract:
Regland B, et al. Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Vol. 8(1) 2001
Two hundred and four women with chronic fatigue and muscle pain, with no signs of autoimmune disorder, received immune stimulation injections with a Staphylococcus vaccine at monthly intervals over 6 months. Good response was defined as a decrease by at least 50% of the total score on an observer’s rating scale. Nickel allergy was evaluated as probable if the patient had a positive history of skin hypersensitivity from cutaneous exposure to metal objects. The patient’s smoking habits were recorded. Fifty-two percent of the patients had a positive history of nickel contact dermatitis. There were significantly more good responders among the non-allergic non-smokers (39%) than among the allergic smokers (6%). We also present case reports on nickel-allergic patients who apparently improved after cessation of cigarette smoking and reducing their dietary nickel intake. Our observations indicate that exposure to nickel, by dietary intake or inhalation of cigarette smoke, may trigger systemic nickel allergy and contribute to syndromes of chronic fatigue and muscle pain. Download article
- Articles - Download: Nickel-Allergy-Is-Found-in-a-Majority-of-Women-with-Chronic-Fatigue-Syndrome.pdf
- Articles - Title: The role of metals in autoimmunity
- Articles - Abstract:
Stejskal J, Stejskal V. Neuroendocrinology Letters 1999; 20:351-364
Current available literature indicates a risk for metal-induced autoimmunity in man. Metal pathology may be due to toxic or allergic mechanisms where both may play a role. The main factors decisive for disease induced by metals are exposure and genetics which determine the individual detoxifying capacity and sensitivity to metals. This paper reviews the possible mechanisms which may play a role in metal-induced autoimmunity with the emphasis on multiple sclerosis (MS), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We also discuss the role of inflammation-induced changes in the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis as a possible explanation of fatigue, depression and other psychosomatic symptoms observed in these diseases. The increased knowledge about individual sensitivity based on genotype and phenotype variability together with the use of biomarkers for the diagnosis of this individual susceptibility seems to be the key in elucidation of the operating mechanisms. Since metal-induced sensitization may be induced by chronic low-dose exposure, the conventional toxicological approach comparing concentrations of metals in brain autopsies, organ biopsies and body fluids in patients and controls may not provide answers regarding the metal-pathology connection. To address this issue, longitudinal studies of metal-sensitive patients are preferable to the traditional case-control studies.
- Articles - Download: the-role-of-metals-in-autoimmunity.pdf