title: 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.affiliation: Department of Bioscience for Health, Dermatological Clinic, IRCCS Galeazzi Hospital, University of Milan, 20161 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Pigatto
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental and Toxicology Testing "S. Maugeri" IRCCS, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Minoia
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental and Toxicology Testing "S. Maugeri" IRCCS, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ronchi
authors.affiliation: Operative Unit of Dermatology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda-Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brambilla
authors.affiliation: Operative Unit of Dermatology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda-Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ferrucci
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, Unit of Oral Pathology and Medicine, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico Fondazione Ca' Granda IRCCS, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Spadari
authors.affiliation: Italian Association for Metals and Biocompatibility Research (AIRMEB), 20122 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Passoni
authors.affiliation: Alpha Search, 20063 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Somalvico
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, Unit of Oral Pathology and Medicine, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico Fondazione Ca' Granda IRCCS, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Gian Paolo
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Bombeccari
authors.affiliation: Italian Association for Metals and Biocompatibility Research (AIRMEB), 20122 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianpaolo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guzzi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003723:Dental Amalgam / Q000009:adverse effects; D004032:Diet; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000378:metabolism; D006728:Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000652:urine; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008628:Mercury / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D008670:Metals / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018777:Multiple Chemical Sensitivity / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000652:urine; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones; D008670:Metals; D003723:Dental Amalgam; D008628:Mercury