title: [Allergic reactions to implant materials].
abstract: The extent of the immune response upon implantation of metallic devices depends on the individual reactivity and on material characteristics. If specific T-cellular sensitization occurs or an allergy to metal preexists, hypersensitive reactions to implant components may develop. They include eczema, impaired wound healing, and sterile osteomyelitis. The existence of allergy-induced implant loosening is still an open question. Further improvement of clinical allergological diagnostics, better understanding of peri-implantar immune reactions, and interdisciplinary collection of epidemiological data concerning allergy to implants will contribute to a better knowledge about tolerance of implant material in humans.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Dermatologie und Allergologie, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich. peter.Thomas@derma.med.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D008670:Metals / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D010328:Patch Tests; D019736:Prostheses and Implants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation; D012307:Risk Factors; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D008670:Metals