歯科用金属アレルギーが疑われる患者の調査

Patients with metal allergy have been increasing due to various metals being used in the daily environment. Therefore, we performed patch tests in 40 patients with suspected metal allergy whose initial visit from April 1992 to march 1996. The medical route to our department and symptoms at the initial consultation at our department were evaluated in all the patients, and the association with oral metals was examined in patients positive for patch tests. The course after treatment was also analyzed. The results were as follows: 1. Fifty percents of the patients were referred to our department from the hospital affiliated to Iwate Medical University. 2. The major symptoms at the initial consultation at our department were eruptions (60.0%), oral mucosal inflammation (23.3%), and tongue pain (13.3%) 3. Patch tests were positive in 27 (67.55%) of the 40 patients. 4. According to metal elements, patch tests were most frequently positive for palladium (10 patients), followed by nickel and cobalt (9 patients each). 5. The positive metal in patch tests was consistent with the oral metal in 20 patients but inconsistent in the other 7. 6. Due to removing antigen metals in the 20 patients , three patients were cured completely, however, rest of the patients showed reduced and recurrent symptoms