Gold concentration in blood in relation to the number of gold restorations and contact allergy to gold.
Previous studies have demonstrated an association between gold allergy and the presence of dental gold restorations. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between the concentration of gold in blood (B-Au) and the number of tooth surfaces with gold alloys in subjects with and without contact allergy to gold. In 80 patients referred for patch testing because of eczematous disease, blood samples were taken and analyzed for B-Au using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The detection limit for the Au determination was 0.04 microg/L. In addition, a dentist made a clinical and radiological examination of the patients and registered the number of dental gold surfaces. Patients with dental gold restorations had a statistically significantly higher B-Au in Mann-Whitney U test (P = 0.025), (range < 0.04-1.07 microg/L) than patients without (range < 0.04-0.15 microg/L). Furthermore, a positive correlation was found between B-Au and the number of dental gold surfaces (P < 0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in B-Au between persons with and without contact allergy to gold. The study thus indicates that gold is released from dental restorations and taken tip into the circulation.
Ahnlide
Ingela
I
Department of Occupational and Environmental Dermatology, Malmö University Hospital, Sweden. ingela.ahnlide@derm.mas.lu.se
Ahlgren
Camilla
C
Björkner
Bert
B
Bruze
Magnus
M
Lundh
Thomas
T
Möller
Halvor
H
Nilner
Krister
K
Schütz
Andrejs
A
D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000737:chemistry; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002516:Ceramics / Q000737:chemistry; D003188:Composite Resins / Q000737:chemistry; D003722:Dental Alloys / Q000737:chemistry; D003723:Dental Amalgam / Q000737:chemistry; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000145:classification; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005899:Glass Ionomer Cements / Q000737:chemistry; D006046:Gold / Q000097:blood*; D006047:Gold Alloys / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008875:Middle Aged; D010328:Patch Tests; D012737:Sex Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D003188:Composite Resins; D003722:Dental Alloys; D005899:Glass Ionomer Cements; D006047:Gold Alloys; D006046:Gold; D003723:Dental Amalgam; D014025:Titanium