Allergological and Toxicological Aspects in a Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Cohort

الملخص EN

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.