Journal article
Care of patients who are worried about mercury poisoning from dental fillings
Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, v 23(6), pp 797-798
01 Nov 2010
PMID: 21057078
Abstract
INTRODUCTIONPublic concern about adverse health effects from mercury exposure from dental amalgams remains a high-profile issue. Patients with nonspecific neuropsychiatric symptoms may incorrectly attribute their complaints to mercury poisoning, and some alternative medical providers diagnose mercury toxicity using nonvalidated tests or without testing at all.CASE REPORTWe report the case of a 37-year-old female who was referred to our outpatient medical toxicology clinic by her family medicine physician after a wellness doctor involved in her care ordered a dimercaptopropanesulfonic acid (DMPS) challenge urine study that revealed an "elevated" mercury level.DISCUSSIONThe use of postchelator challenge urine testing to diagnose mercury poisoning has not been validated. Use of such tests may cause falsely elevated urine mercury levels resulting in misdiagnosis of mercury poisoning and unncessary, expensive, and potentially dangerous chelation therapy.CONCLUSIONFamily medicine physicians may encounter patients who are concerned about mercury poisoning after undergoing postchelator challenge urine testing. In patients with a low suspicion for mercury toxicity, reassurance is adequate. In patients with moderate to high suspicion for mercury toxicity, a validated test for mercury, such as a 24-hour urine mercury level, or referral to a medical toxicologist is the most appropriate approach.
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Details
- Title
- Care of patients who are worried about mercury poisoning from dental fillings
- Creators
- David Vearrier - Drexel UniversityMichael I Greenberg
- Publication Details
- Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, v 23(6), pp 797-798
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- College of Medicine; Emergency Medicine
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000283841900017
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-78649812416
- Other Identifier
- 991019168678504721
InCites Highlights
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Primary Health Care