Allergological and toxicological aspects in a multiple chemical sensitivity cohort.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) is a chronic condition characterized by an exaggerated response to toxicants. We ascertained the prevalence of allergy to metals and toxicological aspects in MCS patients.

METHODS:

We conducted a retrospective review of medical records of 41 patients with MCS. We performed patch testing (n = 21) for dental series and did lymphocyte transformation test (n = 18) for metals. We measured mercury in samples of blood (n = 19), urine (n = 19), saliva (n = 20), and scalp hair (n = 17) to investigate the association between mercury levels and cases of MCS.

RESULTS:

The prevalence of metal immune hypersensitivity in a subset of 26 patients was 92.3 percent. Elevations of mercury occurred in 81.2 percent (26 of 32). The mean (±SD) in blood concentrations of mercury was 7.6 ± 13.6 μg/L; mean in urine was 1.9 ± 2.5 μg/L; mean in scalp hair was 2.2 ± 2.5 μg/g; mean in saliva was 38.1 ± 52.1 μg/L. Subgroup analyses showed that elevation of mercury levels in biological matrices were associated with mercury amalgams in patients with MCS (22 patients), compared with controls (8 patients) (odds ratio 11 : 95 percent confidence interval 1.5 to 81.6; P = 0.023).

CONCLUSIONS:

Our data show an increased prevalence of metal allergy and elevation of mercury levels in bioindicators among patients with MCS.

• Authors: Paolo D Pigatto, Claudio Minoia, Anna Ronchi, Lucia Brambilla, Silvia M Ferrucci, Francesco Spadari, Manuela Passoni, Francesco Somalvico, Gian Paolo Bombeccari, Gianpaolo Guzzi
• Journal: Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity (Oxid Med Cell Longev) Vol. 2013 Pg. 356235 ( 2013) ISSN: 1942-0994 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24367721 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Hormones
• Metals
• Dental Amalgam
• Mercury

Topics

• Adult
• Body Mass Index
• Cohort Studies
• Dental Amalgam (adverse effects)
• Diet
• Dietary Supplements
• Female
• Hair (metabolism)
• Hormones (metabolism)
• Humans
• Hypersensitivity (blood, complications, epidemiology, urine)
• Italy (epidemiology)
• Male
• Marital Status
• Mercury (blood, urine)
• Metals (adverse effects)
• Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (blood, complications, epidemiology, urine)
• Prevalence
• Risk Factors
• Rural Population
• Saliva (metabolism)
• Smoking (adverse effects)
• Urban Population