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1: Contact Dermatitis. 1995 Dec;33(6):423-7. Related Articles, Links  

Erratum in:
Contact Dermatitis 1996 Jul;35(1):70.

Comment in:
Contact Dermatitis. 1996 Jul;35(1):69.

Oral lichenoid lesions caused by allergy to mercury in amalgam fillings.

Pang BK, Freeman S.

Contact & Occupational Dermatitis Clinic, Skin & Cancer Foundation, NSW,
Australia.

Oral lichenoid lesions (OLL) or lichen-planus-like lesions are often
idiopathic. Our aim was to determine whether OLL can be caused by allergy to
mercury in amalgam fillings, and whether resolution of OLL occurs after
replacement of amalgam with other dental fillings. Patients with only OLL
(except for 1 case with cutaneous lichen planus) referred for patch testing
during 1985-1994 to the Contact and Occupational Dermatitis Clinic of the Skin
& Cancer Foundation, Darlinghurst, were reviewed. Patch tests were performed
with 1% mercury, 1% ammoniated mercury, 0.1% thimerosal, 0.1% mercuric
chloride, 0.05% phenylmercuric nitrate and an amalgam disc, using Finn Chambers
occluded for 2 days, 19 patients (17 women and 2 men; age range: 28-72 years)
had OLL in close contact with amalgam fillings and showed positive patch test
reactions to mercury compounds, 16 out of 19 patients had their amalgam
fillings replaced. In 13 patients, the OLL healed. 1 patient had marked
improvement. 1 patient had no improvement and developed multiple oral squamous
cell carcinoma. In conclusion, OLL can be caused by allergy to mercury in
amalgam fillings. Replacement of amalgam with other dental fillings usually
results in resolution of OLL and is recommended for cases with positive patch
test reactions to mercury compounds.

PMID: 8706402 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]