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Failure to detect any effect of amalgam restorations on peripheral blood lymphocyte populations

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Summary

Dental amalgam has been considered to have adverse side effects on the immune system. Reports have been contradictory, indicating both an increase and a decrease in peripheral blood lymphocyte counts associated with amalgam restorations. We investigated two groups of patients, one of which was treated with amalgam restorations for the first time. In the other group, all existing amalgam fillings were removed. Prior to and after treatment, we determined the absolute and relative numbers of granulocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes, T cells, B cells, cytotoxic T cells, helper T cells and natural killer cells. In addition, functional investigations of T cells were performed. We failed to find any effect of amalgam restorations on the immune system in terms of the parameters investigated.

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Abbreviations

CD:

cluster of differentiation

cpm:

counts per minute

FACS:

fluorescence-activated cell analysis

PHA:

phytohaemagglutinin

FITC:

fluorescein isothiocyanate

Ig:

Immunoglobulin

μCi:

microCurie

NK cell:

natural killer cell

PE:

phycoerythrin

Hb:

haemoglobin

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Poliklinik für Zahnerhaltung und Paradontologie, Universität Würzburg, Germany

    P. Dünninger & B. Klaiber

  2. Medizinische Poliklinik der Universität, Klinikstrasse 8, W-8700, Würzburg, Germany

    M. Wilhelm, R. Rüppel, H. -P. Tony & K. Wilms

Authors
  1. M. Wilhelm
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  2. P. Dünninger
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  3. R. Rüppel
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  4. H. -P. Tony
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  5. K. Wilms
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  6. B. Klaiber
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Wilhelm, M., Dünninger, P., Rüppel, R. et al. Failure to detect any effect of amalgam restorations on peripheral blood lymphocyte populations. Clin Investig 70, 728–734 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00180738

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00180738

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