No evidence of renal toxicity from amalgam fillings.
Sandborgh-Englund, Gunilla, Anders T. Nygren, Jan Ekstrand, and Carl
-Gustaf Elinder.
Departments of: Dental Toxicology, Medical Laboratory Science and
Technology, Division of Clinical Physiology, and Renal Medicine,
Division of Clinical Science
APStracts 3:0118R, 1996.
Dental amalgam continuously release mercury. Studies of sheep (10)
showed decreased renal function after placement of amalgam fillings.
In this study the renal function was investigated in ten healthy
volunteers before and after amalgam removal. The subjects had an
average of 18 tooth surfaces filled with amalgam, which were removed
during one dental session. One week before and 60 days after removal,
the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was determined by 51Cr-EDTA
-clearance technique. Blood and urine samples were collected for
analysis of mercury (Hg), creatinine, [beta]2-microglobuline, N
-acetyl-[beta]-glucose-aminidase (NAG), and albumin, one week before
and one, two, and 60 days after amalgam removal. The plasma-Hg
concentration increased significantly one day after removal. Sixty
days later, significantly lower Hg-levels were found in blood,
plasma, and urine. The GFR values were similar before and after Hg
-exposure (mean 94 and 94 ml/min/1.73 m2, respectively). No detectable
effects occurred on excretion of NAG, [beta]2-microglobuline or
albumin. It is concluded that no signs of renal toxicity could be
found in conjunction with mercury released from amalgam fillings.
Received 20 September 1995; accepted in final form 20 March 1996.
APS Manuscript Number R590-5.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Regulatory Integrative
Comp. Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1996 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 1 April 96