Amalgam anxiety and allergy - results of an interdisciplinary study with regard of a female patient with an amalgam allergy

A number of patients feel an indifferent emotional disturbance when looking at their amalgam fillings. Most of the complaints of patients suffering su bjectively from amalgam fillings are mostly unspecific and cannot be proven medically for a certain disease. In an interdisciplinary study, we studied 40 patients with complaints from their amalgam fillings in comparison to a randomized control group matched for age, sex, and number and size of amal gam fillings. A large-scale anamnesis in regard of nutrition, and life habi ts as well as atopic symptoms (anmnesis, IgE, skin symptoms), a patch test with amalgam and amalgam-alloying metals and a toxicological study of mercu ry in 24-hour urine and morning urine were done. Additionnally, psychologic al questionnaire testing was made and a one-hour psychosomatic interview. P atients and controls did not differ in mercury concentration in blood and u rine. In the patient group, there was a significantly higher number of atop ics (11/40) in comparison with controls (5/40). Patients felt themselves mo re psychic burdens and have had higher degrees in the depression scale. Ten patients (25%) fulfilled the criteria of an somatization disorder after IC D-10.