Objectives: We have already reported that dental metal allergies play an important role as the causative allergen for the pathogenesis of intractable atopic dermatitis and/or psoriasis according to metal antigen-specific lymphocyte stimulation tests (LST). This time we performed antigen elimination therapy for acne vulgaris, one of the most popular skin diseases, by means of LST for house dust mites (HDM) and dental metal salts. Methods: LST were performed on 10 intractable acne patients (all of them women, aged from 17 to 47 years) for HDM and mercury, nickel, gold, silver, palladium and indium dental metal salts. Results: Positive LST were obtained in 80% to HDM, 100% to Hg, 100% to Ni, 30% to Au, 20% to Ag, 30% to Pd and 10% to In respectively. For the critical reduction of HDM in the bedroom we used special mite-free bed linen sets. LST positive metals in each oral cavity were removed. All patients showed remarkable improvement within 3 months of LST positive dental metal removal without any anti-inflammation drugs. The removed putative and causative metals were Hg amalgam in 9 cases, Pd alloys in 4 cases, and Ni in one case. Conclusion: This study shows activated T lymphocytes due to mites and/or dental metal allergens play a critical role in the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris in at least some cases of intractable acne just the same as in our atopic dermatitis and psoriasis results. For the diagnosis and the treatment of acne vulgaris, dental metal allergies should be seriously considered. Our allergen specific antigen elimination therapy is a highly effective method for the treatment of acne and LST is useful to find the putative dental metal allergen for acne vulgaris.

Back to the Dental Materials: VII - Others-Metallic Program
Back to the IADR/AADR/CADR 82nd General Session (March 10-13, 2004)

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