RESEARCH
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| AUTHORS | Stejskal VD. Forsbeck M. Cederbrant KE. Asteman O. |
| INSTITUTION | Astra AB, Safety Assessment, Sodertalje, Sweden. |
| TITLE | Mercury-specific lymphocytes: an indication of mercury allergy in man. |
| SOURCE | Journal of Clinical Immunology. 16(1):31-40, 1996 Jan |
| COUNTRY OF PUBLICATION | United States |
| ABSTRACT | In this study, 18 patients with oral licen planus (OLP), adjacent to amalgam fillings, were tested in vitro with an optimized lymphocyte proliferation test, MELISA (memory lymphocyte immunostimulation assay) and with a patch test. Twenty subjects with amalgam fillings but without oral discomfort and 12 amalgam-free subjects served as controls. The results show that patients with OLP have significantly higher lymphocyte reactivity to inorganic mercury, a corrosion product of amalgam, compared to control groups. Removal of amalgam fillings resulted in the disappearance of oral mucosal changes, thus indicating a casual relationship. Positive responses to phenylmercury (phenyl-Hg), a bactericidal agent in root fillings and in pharmaceutical preparations, were also noted in the oral lichen group but not in the control groups. Thus, low-grade chronic exposure to mercury may induce a state of sytemetic sensitization as verified by Hg-specific lymphocyte reactivity in vitro. |
| PUBLICATION TYPE | Journal Article |
| LANGUAGE | English |
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