In vitro lymphocyte reactivity to heavy metal salts in the diagnosis of oral mucosal hypersensitivity to amalgam restorations

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Abstract
The value of lympbocyte reactivity in the diagnosis of hypersensitivity to amalgam restorations was studied in a group of patients witb oral mucosal lesions, and in a control group. Heavy metal salts were added to lympbocyte cultures, and lympbocyte proliferation and levels of IL-2 receptors and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) were determined. After addition of mercuric chloride, a statistically significant increase of IFN-γ was seen in the patient group, indicating a higher reactivity to this metal salt. Mercuric chloride, nickel sulphate, palladium chloride and zinc chloride all stimulated lymphocyte proliferation, but there was no difference between patients and controls. Nine other metal salts tested did not influence tbe proliferation rate in eitber group. Mercuric chloride, nickel sulphate, and zinc chloride did not have any effect on the level of IL-2 receptors. Thus, certain functional tests other than crude lympbocyte proliferation may be useful in the diagnosis of amalgam hypersensitivity.