Multiple sclerosis and dental amalgam: Case-control study in Ferrara, Italy

Dental amalgam fillings containing mercury have been suggested as a possibl e risk factor for multiple sclerosis (MS). In the context of a wider progra m of investigation into environmental risk factors and MS, we conducted a c ase-control comparison to investigate the alleged association between MS, d ental caries, and amalgam fillings. We included 132 MS patients with onset during the last 16 years and 423 controls, matched to cases for sex, age an d residence. Data were collected by a personal interview conducted by train ed doctors. Cases and controls gave informed consent. Although we report a trend toward a higher number of dental fillings in cases than controls, odd s ratios for subjects with exposures of different duration and with differe nt numbers of amalgam fillings were not statistically significant. This cas e-control study failed to demonstrate an association between either the num ber of dental amalgam fillings or the duration of exposure to mercury amalg am and MS. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.