Tag: metal allergy

Metals as a common trigger of inflammation resulting in non-specific symptoms: diagnosis and treatment

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: The multiple symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and fibromyalgia resemble those described in patients suffering from autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA). It has been suggested that chronic metal-induced inflammation might play a role both in CFS and fibromyalgia as well as in ASIA. Humans are exposed to metals mainly through the release of metal ions from corroding dental restorations and orthopedic implants, food, vaccines and jewelry. Metals readily bind to sulphur and other groups in the mitochondria, enzymes and cell proteins. Metal-bound proteins are recognized by the immune system of susceptible subjects and might trigger an abnormal immune response, including allergy and autoimmunity.

OBJECTIVES: To study three subjects with CFS and two with fibromyalgia, all of whom suspected metal exposure as a trigger for their ill health.

METHODS: We measured delayed-type hypersensitivity to metals (metal allergy) using a validated lymphocyte transformation test, LTT-MELISA. All patients except one were sensitized to metals present in their dental restorations. The remaining patient reacted to metals in his skull implant. The removal of sensitizing metals resulted in long-term health improvement. Nine healthy controls matched for gender and age showed only marginal reactivity to the metals tested.

CONCLUSIONS: Patients with CFS and fibromyalgia are frequently sensitized to metals found in the environment or used in dentistry and surgery. This allergy to metals might initiate or aggravate non-specific symptoms in metal-sensitized patients.

 

Source: Stejskal V. Metals as a common trigger of inflammation resulting in non-specific symptoms: diagnosis and treatment. Isr Med Assoc J. 2014 Dec;16(12):753-8. https://www.ima.org.il/FilesUpload/IMAJ/0/100/50323.pdf (Full article as PDF)

 

Mercury and nickel allergy: risk factors in fatigue and autoimmunity

Abstract:

This study examined the presence of hypersensitivity to dental and environmental metals in patients with clinical disorders complicated with chronic fatigue syndrome. Three groups of patients were examined through medical history, dental examination, and by using a modified test of blast transformation for metals-MELISA(R).

The three groups consisted of the following: 22 patients with autoimmune thyroiditis with or without polyglandular autoimmune activation; 28 fatigued patients free from endocrinopathy; and 22 fatigued professionals without evidence of autoimmunity. As controls, a population sample or 13 healthy subjects without any evidence of metal sensitivity was included. Healthy controls did not complain of marked fatigue and their laboratory tests did not show signs of autoimmunity and endocrinopathy.

We have found that fatigue, regardless of the underlying disease, is primarily associated with hypersensitivity to inorganic mercury and nickel. The lymphocyte stimulation by other metals was similar in fatigued and control groups.

To evaluate clinical relevance of positive in vitro findings, the replacement of amalgam with metal-free restorations was performed in some of the patients. At a six-month follow-up, patients reported considerably alleviated fatigue and disappearance of many symptoms previously encountered; in parallel, lymphocyte responses to metals decreased as well.

We suggest that metal-driven inflammation may affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis) and indirectly trigger psychosomatic multisymptoms characterizing chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and other diseases of unknown etiology.

 

Source: Sterzl I, Procházková J, Hrdá P, Bártová J, Matucha P, Stejskal VD. Mercury and nickel allergy: risk factors in fatigue and autoimmunity. Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 1999;20(3-4):221-228. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11462117

 

Metal-specific lymphocytes: biomarkers of sensitivity in man

Abstract:

Many patients attribute their health problems to amalgam and other dental metals. In genetically susceptible indviduals, mercury and gold may function as haptens and elicit allergic and autoimmune reactions.

The frequency of metal-induced lymphocyte responses was examined in 3,162 patients in three European laboratories using MELISA(R), an optimized lymphocyte proliferation test. The patients suffered from local and systemic symptoms attributed to dental restorations. The effect of dental metal removal was studied in 111 patients with metal hypersensitivity and symptoms resembling Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).

After consultation with a dentist the patients decided to replace their metal restorations with non-metallic materials. The changes in health and in vitro lymphocyte reactivity were studied by inquiries and follow-up MELISA(R). Lymphocyte reactivity was also analyzed in 116 healthy subjects with no complaints of metal allergy.

A significant number of patients had metal-specific lymphocytes in the blood. Nickel was the most common sensitizer, followed by inorganic mercury, gold, phenylmercury, cadmium and palladium. As compared to lymphocyte responses in healthy subjects, the CFS group had significantly increased responses to several metals, especially to inorganic mercury, phenylmercury and gold.

Following dental metal removal, 83 patients (76%) reported long-term health improvement. Twenty-four patients (22%) reported unchanged health and two (2%) reported worsening of symptoms. Following dental metal replacement, the lymphocyte reactivity to metals decreased as well.

We propose that an inflammatory process induced by metals may modulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis) and trigger multiple non-specific symptoms characterizing CFS and other chronic conditions like myalgic encephalitis (ME) and multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS).

 

Source: Stejskal VD, Danersund A, Lindvall A, Hudecek R, Nordman V, Yaqob A, Mayer W, Bieger W, Lindh U. Metal-specific lymphocytes: biomarkers of sensitivity in man. Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 1999;20(5):289-298. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11460087

 

Chronic fatigue syndrome and nickel allergy

Abstract:

50 patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and 73 controls were patch tested with 8 metal allergens. We found an overrepresentation of allergies among the CFS patients, which was not significant. However, allergy to nickel occurred in 36% of patients in the CFS group and in 19% of subjects in the control group (p<0.05). The high frequency of nickel allergy was more noteworthy in females in the CFS group than among female controls (52% and 24%, respectively, p<0.05). Similarly, in the males the figures were 14% and 9%. We suggest that in vivo immunoactivation by ions of nickel, or metal cross-reacting with nickel, could be an etiological factor in CFS.

 

Source: Marcusson JA, Lindh G, Evengård B. Chronic fatigue syndrome and nickel allergy. Contact Dermatitis. 1999 May;40(5):269-72. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10344482

 

MELISA-an in vitro tool for the study of metal allergy

Abstract:

The sensitizing properties of metals widely used in medical and dental care have been studied with the help of an optimized lymphocyte proliferative assay, MELISA. MELISA (memory lymphocyte immuno-stimulation assay) was originally developed for the screening of allergenic epitopes of drugs and other chemicals of low molecular weight, but has recently been adapted for the study of metal-induced sensitization.

The patients studied suffered from various oral mucosal problems which were suspected to be caused by the release of metal ions from dental restorations. They were also troubled by chronic fatigue persisting over many years. One patient was also occupationally exposed to metals while working in a dental practice. Healthy subjects without any discomfort due to metal devices served as controls. In addition to metals used in dentistry, lymphocyte responses to organic mercurials used widely as preservatives in vaccines, eye/nose drops and contact lense fluids were studied.

The results indicated that mercurials, as well as other metals such as gold or palladium, induce strong lymphocyte proliferative responses in patients with oral or systemic symptoms, but not in similarly exposed unaffected subjects.

The results of MELISA performed with a pair of identical twins with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) indicated that metal-specific responses may be dependent on the genetics of the patient. Thus, many metals that are today accepted for use in medicine and dentistry carry a definite sensitizing risk for certain genetically predisposed individuals. Therefore, the use of these metals should be limited in the future.

 

Source: Stejskal VD, Cederbrant K, Lindvall A, Forsbeck M. MELISA-an in vitro tool for the study of metal allergy. Toxicol In Vitro. 1994 Oct;8(5):991-1000. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20693060