http://home.earthlink.net/~berniew1/ms.html

Is Mercury from Amalgam Fillings the Most Common Cause of

MS, ALS, AD, PD, SLE, RA, MCS, etc. May 2000

Bernard Windham, Chemical Engineer

I. Introduction

Proper functioning of the human body and mind depends on interactions of the brain and CNS with elaborate metabolic and enzymatic processes and respiration that occurs at the cellular level in the various organs and parts of the body, as controlled by low levels of hormones from the endocrine system. It will be shown that toxic substances, such as mercury that the body is chronically exposed to, accumulate in the brain, pituitary gland, CNS, liver, kidneys, etc. and can damage, inhibit, and cause imbalances at virtually any stage of these various processes, which can have major neurological, immunological, and metabolic effects on an individual.

The main factors determining whether chronic conditions are induced by metals appear to be exposure and genetic susceptability, which determines individuals immune sensitivity and ability to detoxify metals(405). Very low levels of exposure have been found to seriously affect relatively large groups of individuals who are immune sensitive to toxic metals, or have an inability to detoxify metals due to such as deficient sulfoxidation or metallothionein function or other inhibited enzymatic processes related to detoxification or excretion of metals.

The various neurological, immune, and metabolic related diseases discussed together here

are diagnosed and labeled clinically based primarily on symptoms, along with tests for some underlying conditions found common in each disease. But each individual will be seen to have their own unique combination of neurological, endocrine, and enzymatic imbalances along with autoimmunities that result in the functional problems that lead to symptoms that are diagnosed as multiple sclerosis(MS) or Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis(ALS) or Alzheimer's Disease(AD), or

Parkinson's Disease(PD), or Systemic Lupus Erythematosus(SLE), rheumatoid arthritis(RA), chronic fatigue syndrome(CFS), or oral lichen planus(OLP), etc. However, a lot of commonality among these factors has been documented, both within specific diseases and among the various diseases discussed here. In MS, an autoimmune T-cell attack on CNS myelin sheath results in demelinated plaques(405). Activated T-cells, plasma cells, and macrophages have been found in the demyelinated areas. ALS is a systemic motor neuron disease that affects the corticospinal and corticobulbar tracts, ventral horn motor neurons, and motor cranial nerve nuclei(405). Approximately 10 percent of ALS cases are of the familial type that has been linked to a mutation of the copper/zinc super oxide dismustase gene(Cu/Zn SOD). The majority of ALS cases are of the sporadic type. There are many toxic substances as well as some common drugs(336) that have been found to be major factors in producing the functional conditions that result in these diseases. However mercury appears to be the most commonly implicated of these, and in particular mercury from amalgam fillings- as will be documented here. For the majority of cases there are now tests to identify the various factors involved in these types of diseases; and once an individual's underlying causative factors have been identified, high success rates at cure or significant improvement are being achieved.

Toxic metals such as mercury, lead, cadmium,etc. have been documented to be neurotoxic, immunotoxic, reproductive/developmental toxins that according to U.S. Government agencies cause adverse health effects and learning disabilities to millions in the U.S. each year, especially children and the elderly(2,105,117,160). Exposure of humans and animals to toxic metals such as mercury, cadmium, lead, copper, aluminum, arsenic, chromium, manganese, etc. is widespread and in many areas increasing. The U.S. Center for Disease Control(276) ranks toxic metals as the number one environmental health threat to children. According to an EPA/ATSDR assessment, the toxic metals mercury,lead, and cadmium are all ranked in the top 10 toxics having the most adverse health effects on the public based on toxicity and current exposure levels in the U.S., with nickel and chromium also highly listed.

While there is considerable commonality to the health effects commonly caused by these toxic metals, and effects are cummulative and synergistic in many cases, this paper will concentrate on the health effects of elemental mercury from amalgam fillings. The reason is that the public appears to be generally unaware that considerable scientific evidence supports that mercury is the metal causing the most widespread adverse health effects to the public, and amalgam fillings have been well documented to be the number one source of exposure of mercury to most people, with exposure levels often exceeding Government health guidelines and levels documented to cause adverse health effects. Much of the direct chronic exposure to toxic metals for persons with the autoimmune diseases discussed here appears to be from use of metals in dental work. The most common dental metals that have been documented to be causing widespread adverse health effects are mercury, nickel, palladium, gold, and silver. Although chronic exposure clearly is affecting a much larger population, nickel has been found to be a major factor in many cases of MS and lupus, with palladium having very similar effects to nickel. Likewise chronic exposure to manganese and copper have been impicated in some cases of Parkinson's disease. Another group of toxic substance substances with widespread exposure that have been demonstrated to generate reactive oxygen species and have positive correlations to some of the diseases discussed here are the organochlorine pesticides. Toxic metals appear to be only one of the factors involved in Alzheimer's.

II. Mercury Toxicity, Exposure, and Accumulation in the Brain and CNS

Mercury is one of the most toxic substances in existence and is known to bioaccumulate

in the body of people and animals that have chronic exposure(500). Mercury exposure is cumulative and comes primarily from 3 main sources: occupational exposure, food(mainly fish), and silver/mercury dental fillings. Whereas mercury exposure from fish is primarily methyl mercury, mercury from occupational exposure and dental fillings is primarily from elemental mercury vapor. Mercury in amalgam fillings, because of its low vapor pressure and galvanic action with other metals in the mouth,, has been found to be continuously vaporized and released into the body, and has been found to be the number one source of mercury in the majority of people(183,209,79,80,82,500,etc.), typically between 60 and 90% of the total. The level of daily exposure of those with several amalgam fillings commonly exceeds the U.S. EPA health guideline for daily mercury exposure of 0.1 ug/kg body weight/day. (2, WHO:183,199, 209, 500,etc.), and the oral mercury level commonly exceeds the mercury MRL of the U.S.ATSDR of 0.2 ug/ cubic meter of air(217).. When amalgam fillings are replaced, levels of mercury in the blood, urine, and feces typically rise temporarily but decline between 60 to 85% within 6 months (79,80,82,500,etc.).

Mercury has been found to accumulate preferentially in the primary motor function related areas such as the brain stem, cerebellum, rhombencephalon, dorsal root ganglia, and anterior horn motor neurons, which enervate the skeletal muscles(48,291,327,329,442). The number of amalgam surfaces has a statistically significant correlation to the amount of mercury in the brain, and in particular to the pituitary gland, hypothalamus, occipital cortex and the primary motor function related areas such as the brain stem, cerebellum, rhombencephalon, dorsal root ganglia, and anterior horn motor neurons, which act as the coordination center of voluntary movements, posture, equilibrium, and enervate the skeletal muscles (163,291,327,329,13,14,19, 25,34,38,85,162,262,273,274). Mercury has been found to accumulate in the cerebellum(13) and other brain areas, producing reactive oxygen species(ROS), including superoxide that cause damage to those parts of the brain(194). Mercury was also found to cause a reduction in antioxidant function such as superoxide dimustase(SOD) that tries to counter- balance the ROS. Mercury, with exposure either to vapor or organic mercury tends to accumulate in the glial cells in a similar pattern, and the pattern of deposition is the same as that seen from morphological changes(327g,287a). There is considerable evidence this may be a factor in ALS development and MS(48,325,405,416,423,442,501). Mercury(especially mercury vapor or organic mercury) penetrates and damages the blood brain barrier allowing penetration of the barrier by other substances that are neurotoxic (along with reduced amino acid uptake to brain) (20,38,85,105,162,301,311/262). Such damage to the blood brain barrier's function has been found to be a major factor in chronic neurological diseases such as MS(286,289,291,302, 324,326,478). MS patients have been found to have much higher levels of mercury in cerebrospinal fluid compared to controls (163,35,139). Large German studies including studies at German universities have found that MS patients usually have high levels of mercury body burden, with one study finding 300% higher than controls(271). Most recovered after mercury detox, with some requiring additional treatment for viruses and intestinal dysbiosis. Studies have found mercury related mental effects to be indistinguishable from those of MS (207,212,222,244,271,289,291,302,183,184,324,326). Very high levels of mercury are also found in brain memory areas such as the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of patients with diseases with memory related symptoms (158,34, 207,etc.).

III. Mercury Related Neurological Damage

Mercury vapor and methyl mercury penetrate and damage the blood brain barrier (311,14,85,500), also facilitating other toxic substances penetration of the BBB. Damage to the blood brain barrier's function has been found to be a major factor in chronic neurological diseases discussed here. Mercury also causes high levels of oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species(ROS)(13), which have been implicated as major factors in neurological disorders including stroke, ALS(501) PD(502), Alzheimer's(503), Lupus (12,33e,35,60,113, 229,233,234, 270,330,331,456), etc. Studies have found mercury related mental effects to be indistinguishable from those of MS (163,207,244,289,291,302,184,324,326).

Metals like mercury bind to SH-groups(sulphydryl) in sulfur compounds like amino acids and proteins, changing the structure of the compound that it is attached to. This often results in the immune systems T-cells not recognizing them as appropriate nutrients and attacking them(226). Such binding and autoimmune damage has been documented in the fat-rich proteins of the myelin sheaths of the CNS(478) and collagen(405), which are affected in MS. Metals by binding to SH radicals in proteins and other such groups can cause autoimmunity by modifying proteins which via T-cells activate B-cells that target the altered proteins inducing autoimmunity as well as causing aberrant MHC II expression on altered target cells(425de,343). Studies have also found mercury and lead cause autoantibodies to neuronal proteins, neurofilaments, and myelin basic protein(MBP) (269ag,405,478,515,516). Mercury and cadmium also have been found to intefere with zinc binding to MBP(517b) which affects MS symptoms since zinc stabilizes the association of MBP with brain myelin(517a). MS has also been found to commonly be related to inflamatory activity in the CNS such as that caused by the reactive oxygen species and cytokine generation caused by mercury and other toxic metals (405,478,515,516). Antioxidants like lipoic acid which counteract such free radical activity have been found to alleviate symptoms and decrease demyalination(494c). A group of metal exposed MS patients with amalgam fillings were found to have lower levels of red blood cells, hemoglobin, hemocrit, thyroxine, T-cells, and CD8+ supressor immune cells than a group of MS patients with amalgam replaced, and more excurbations of MS than those without(102a). Immune and autoimmune mechanisms are thus seen to be a major factor in neurotoxicity of metals.

Calcium plays a major role in the extreme neurotoxicity of mercury and methyl mercury. Both inhibit cellular calcium ATPase and calcium uptake by brain microsomes at very low levels of exposure(333). Protein Kinase C (PKC) regulates intracellular and extra cellular singals across neuronal membranes, and both forms of mercury inhibit PKC at micromolar levels, as well as inhibiting phorbal ester binding(43). They also block or inhibit calcium L-channel currents in the brain in an irreversable and concentration dependent manner. Metallic mercury is much more potent than methyl mercury in these actions, with 50 % inhibitation in anmimal studies at 13 ppb(333).

A direct mechanism involving mercury's inhibition of cellular enzymatic processes by binding with the hydroxyl radical(SH) in amino acids appears to be a major part of the connection to allergic/immune reactive conditions. The binding of mercury from amalgam to the -SH groups often results in inactivation of sulfur and blocking of enzyme function, producing sulfur metobolites with extreme toxicity that the body is unable to properly detoxify(33,114). Sulfur is essential in enzymes, hormones, nerve tissue, and red blood cells. These exist in almost every enzymatic process in the body. Blocked or inhibited sulfur oxidation at the cellular level has been found in most with many of the chronic degenertive diseases, including Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, ALS, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, MCS, autism, etc.(33,330,331,501-504)

Some studies of patients with major neurological or degenerative diseases have found evidence amalgam fillings may play a major role in development of conditions such as such as ,

MS(102,163,170,184,212,285,291,302,324,326), ALS(92,97,325,501), RA(500), AD(66,67,158,166,204,207,221,238,242,244,258,296,300,503), SLE (234,60,405), PD(56,84,98,169,218,248,250, 258,502) , and many other conditions(500). Mercury induced lipid peroxidation has been found to be a major factor in mercury's neurotoxicity, along with leading to decreased levels of glutathione peroxidation and superoxide dismustase(SOD)(13). Only a few micrograms of mercury severely disturb cellular function (33,56,226).

Mercury exposure causes high levels of oxidative stress/reactive oxygen species(ROS)(13), which has been found to be a major factor in neurological disease(56,501-504). Mercury and quinones form conjugates with thiol compounds such as glutathione and cysteine and cause depletion of glutathione, which is necessary to mitigate reactive damage. Such congugates are found to be highest in the brain substantia nigra with similar congugates formed with L-Dopa and dopamine in Parkinson's disease(56,502). Mercury depletion of GSH and damage to cellular mitochrondria and the increased lipid perxodation in protein and DNA oxidation in the brain appear to be a major factor in Parkinson's disease(33). A Canadian study found those with 15 or more amalgam fillings to have more than 250% greater risk of MS than controls, and likewise higher risk for those who have had amalgam fillings more than 15 years, and another study also found higher mrcury body burden in those with more fillings and increased risk of MS with more fillings(324). Another study(169) found blood and urine mercury levels to be very strongly related to Parkinson's with odds ratios of approx. 20.

Exposure to mercury results in metalloprotein compounds that have genetic effects,

having both structural and catalytic effects on gene expression(114). Some of the processes affected by such metalloprotein control of genes include cellular respiration, metabolism, enzymatic processes, metal-specific homeostasis, and adrenal stress response systems. Significant psysiological changes occur when metal ion concentrations exceed threshold levels. Such metalloprotein formation also appears to cause a change in antigenicity and autoimmune reactions in significant numbers of people(114,60,342,405). Of a population of over 3000 tested by the immune lymphocyte reactivity test(MELISA), 22% tested positive for inorganic mercury and 8% for methyl mercury. Much mercury in saliva and the brain is also organic, the most neurotoxic form(220,272), since mouth bacteria and other organisms in the body methylate inorganic mercury to organic mercury(51, 81,225,254).

Spatial and temporal changes in intracellular calcium concentrations are critical for controlling neruotransmitter release in neurons(432). Mercury alters calcium homeostasis and calcium levels in the brain and affects neurotransmitter release through its effects on calcium levels(270c,333,372,43). Low levels of toxic metals have been found to inhibit dihydroteridine reductase, which affects the neural system function by inhibiting neurotransmitters through its effect on phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan transport into neurons(257,258). This was found to cause severe impaired amine synthesis and hypokinesis. Tetrahydro-biopterin, which is essential in production of neurotransmitters, is significantly decreased in patients with Alzheimer's, Parkinson', and MS. Such patients have abnormal inhibition of neurotransmitter production..

Mercury at extremely low levels also interferes with formation of tubulin producing neurofibrillary tangles in the brain, similar to those observed in Alzheimers patients with high levels of mercury in the brain (207). Mercury and the induced neurofibrillary tangles also appear to produce a functional zinc deficiency in the of AD sufferers(242), as well as causing reduced

lithium levels which is another factor in such diseases. The low Zn levels result in deficient CuZnSuperoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD), which in turn leads to increased levels of superoxide(463). Lithium protects brain cells against excess glutamate induced excitability and calcium influx(280). Also mercury binds with cell membranes interfering with sodium and potassium enzyme functions, causing excess membrane permeability, especially in terms of the blood-brain barrier (159,207,311]. Less than 1ppm mercury in the blood stream can impair the blood- brain barrier. Mercury was also found to accumulate in the mitochondria and interfere with their vital functions, and to inhibit cytochrome C enzymes which affect energy supply to the brain. Persons with extra Apo-E4 gene copies appear especially susceptible to this damage(207,221)

Mercury blocks the immune function of magnesium and zinc (198,427,43,38), whose deficiencies are known to cause significant neurological effects(461,463,430). The low Zn levels result in deficient CuZnSuperoxide dismustase (CuZnSOD), which in turn leads to increased levels of superoxide due to toxic metal exposure. This is in addition to mercury's effect on metallothionein and copper homeostasis as previously discussed(477). Copper is an essential trace metal which plays a fundamental role in the biochemistry of the nervous system(489,495463,464). Several chronic neurological conditions involving copper metabolic disorders are well documented like Wilson's Disease and Menkes Disease. Mutations in the copper/zinc enzyme superoxide dismustase(SOD) have been shown to be a major factor in the motor neuron degeneration in conditions like familial ALS. Exposures to toxic metals such as mercury and cadmium have been found to cause such effects, and similar effects on Cu/Zn SOD have been found to be a factor in other conditions such as autism, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and ALS (489,495,464,469,111,501-504). This condition can result in zinc deficient SOD and oxidative damage involving nitric oxide, peroxynitrite, and lipid peroxidation(495,496,489), which have been found to affect glutamate mediated excitability and apoptosis of nerve cells and effects on mitochondria (495,496,119) These effects can be reduced by zinc supplementation(464,495,430), as well as supplementation with antioxidants and nitric oxide-suppressing agents and peroxynitrite scavengers such as Vit C, Vit E, lipoic acid, Coenzyme Q10, carnosine, gingko biloba, N-acetylcysteine, etc. (444,464,494,495,469,470). Some of the antioxidants such as ginkgo bilabo were also found to have protective effects through increasing catalase and SOD action, while reducing lipid peroxidations(494a) Ceruloplasmin in plasma can be similarly affected by copper metabolism disfunction, like SOD function, and is often a factor in neurodegeneration(489).

Mercury and other toxic metals inhibit astrocyte function in the brain and CNS(119,131), causing increased glutamate and calcium related neurotoxicity(119,152,333,226a,496) which are responsible for much of the Fibromyalgia symptoms and a factor in neural degeneration in MS and ALS. This is also a factor in conditions such as CFS, Parkinson's, and ALS(346,416,496). Animal studies have confirmed that increased levels of glutamate(or aspartate, another amino acid excitory neurotransmitter) cause increased sensitivity to pain , as well as higher body temperature- both found in CFS/Fibromyalgia. Mercury and increased glutamate activate free radical forming processes like xanthine oxidase which produce oxygen radicals and oxidative neurological damage(346,142,13). Medical studies and doctors treating Fibromyalgia have found that supplements which cause a decrease in glutamate or protect against its effects have a positive effect on Fibromyalgia and other chronic neurologic conditions. Some that have been found to be effective include CoQ10(444), ginkgo biloba and pycnogenol(494a), NAC(54,494a), Vit B6, methyl cobalamine(B12), L-carnitine, choline, ginseng, vitamins C and E, nicotine, and omega 3 fatty acids(fish and flaxseed oil)(417,495e).

IV. Endocrine System and Metabolic Enzymatic System Impairments

Mercury has been well documented to be an endocrine system-disrupting chemical(affecting hormonal processes(85,146,149,199,312,105) and enzyme production processes(33,111,194) at very low levels. The pituitary gland, in which mercury has been documented to accumulate, controls many of the body's endocrine system functions and secretes hormones involved in control of most bodily processes. The hypothalamus regulates body temperature and many metabolic processes. Such hormonal secretions are affected at levels of mercury exposure much lower than the acute toxicity effects normally tested for (146,199). Some of the common effects of mercury on the endocrine system include inhibiting human growth hormone, causing hormonal imbalances that affect the reproductive system and body temperature regulation, and causing hormonal imbalances resulting in imbalances in metabolism of important minerals such as calcium(333,21,25,35,280).

Calcium flux is inhibited in synoptic plasma membranes of the cerebellum and cerebrum cortex. A permanent increase in cytosolic calcium levels appears to be associated with various pathological conditions which result in cell death(333). All of the effects on hormonal regulation of the various bodily processes add to and reinforce the imbalances caused in the metabolic enzymatic processes.

All body functions depend on cellular enzymatic and respiratory processes that use Nutrients delivered by the blood, detoxify toxic substances, and eliminate waste products through the cellular respiratory process back through the lymph and blood to the lungs, kidneys, or liver for excretion. Proteins are converted by enzymatic processes to amino acids such as cysteine, cystine, glutamic acid, methionine, etc. for cellular metabolic processes and to organic compounds such as glutathione which is necessary to detoxify toxic substances such as mercury(13,111,194). Imbalances or blockages in any of several of these enzymatic processes have been documented to cause major neurological and immune damage that appears to be involved in most of the diseases being discussed here.

Mercury vapor of those with chronic exposure is continuously released into the blood stream through the lungs and distributed to cells throughout the body, where it creates metal-protein compounds and reactive oxidative species(ROS) such as superoxide, which must be detoxified. Cysteine and glutathione, which are produced and interchanged as required through enzymatic processes, are necessary for detoxification. Blockages or impairments caused by mercury or other toxic substances or processes can then result in cellular toxicity and damage to vital organs such as the brain, CNS, liver, or kidneys.

Clinical tests of patients with motor neurone disease( MND),ALS, PD, AD, SLE, and RA have found that the patients generally have damaged enzymatic processes resulting in elevated plasma cysteine to sulphate ratios, with the average being 500% higher than controls (330,331), and in general are poor sulphur oxidizers (33,331). High levels of free cysteine have been found to result in major neurological damage to the brain, CNS, and cellular processes(194). The two main enzymatic processes that down regulate cysteine to taurine, sulfates, and glutathione are cysteine dioxygenese(CDO) and gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase(GGCS). Impairment in CDO can result in high cysteine levels, high cysteine to sulfate ratio, low taurine levels, and neurological damage(194). GGCS converts cysteine to glutathione , which has been demonstrated to be necessary to detoxification of toxic substances like mercury(111). If this enzymatic process is blocked, inhibited, or overloaded by chronic high toxicity levels or autoimmune reactions, there is insufficient glutathione and toxic damage occurs due to immune inability to process the metal-organic compounds and the ROS created by exposure to mercury or other toxic substances(111,60,56). Another enzymatic process necessary for proper cellular metabolism is sulfite oxidase(SO) which is involved in conversion of toxic sulfur forms such as sulfites, sulfur dioxide(SO2), hydrogen sulfide(H2S), etc. to nontoxic sulfates(33). SO can be blocked or inhibited by mercury or other toxic exposures, resulting in more of these very toxic sulfur compounds. SO is commonly found to be totally blocked or inhibited in patients with MND,PD,AD,SLE,RA, etc.(330,331). Glutathione peroxidase(GPx) is another enzymatic process in this loop that is often affected, as well as the process involved in converting Vitamin B6 through the essential coenzyme pyrodoxal 5-phosphate(P5P) in the synthesis of neurotransmitters. Impairment in this process results in brain neurotransmitter imbalances. Individual patients with any of these diseases who commonly have been shown to have high ratio of cysteine to sulfate can thus have several different individual enzymatic blockages or imbalances that result in such high ratios, and different levels of neurological, immune, and cellular damage due to high cysteine levels or low glutathione levels. Autoimmune reactions have also been found to be commonly involved in such blockages or imbalances, particularly for those with the major diseases being considered here. This aspect will thus be further discussed.

V. Autoimmunity, Neurological and Immune Diseases, and Mercury

Mercury has been documented to cause autoimmune disease(45,91,234,269,270,291, 328,405) and many researchers have concluded that autoimmunity is a factor in the major chronic neurological diseases such as MS, ALS, PD, SLE,RA,etc.. Mercury and other toxic metals also form inorganic compounds with OH, NH2, CL, in addition to the SH radical and thus inhibits many cellular enzyme processes, coenzymes, hormones, and blood cells(405,500). Mercury has been found to impair conversion of thyroid T4 hormone to the active T3 form as well as causing autoimmune thyroiditis common to such patients(369,382). In general, immune activation from toxic metals such as mercury resulting in cytokine release and abnormalities of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal(HPA) axis can cause changes in the brain, fatigue, and severe psycholgical symtoms(369,375,379-382,385,405,118) such as profound fatigue, muscosketal pain, sleep disturbances, gastrointestinal and neurological problems as are seen in CFS, fibromyalgia, and autoimmune thyroidititis.. Such hypersensitivity has been found most common in those with genetic predisposition to heavy metal sensitivity(60,313,342,369,405), such as found more frequently in patients with human lymphocyte antingens(HLA-DRA) (381-383). A significant portions of the population appear to fall in this category.

The enzymatic processes blocked by such toxic substances as mercury also result in

chronic formation of metal-protein compounds (HLA antigens or antigen-presenting macrophages) that the body's immune system(T-lymphocytes) does not recognize, resulting in autoimmune reactions(114,342,405). The metals bind to SH-groups on proteins which can then be recognized as "foreign" and attacked by immune lymphocytes. Such has been extensively documented by studies such as the documentation of the autoimmune function test MELISA, a sophisticated immune/autoimmune test which was developed to test for such reactions(60,405).

Autoimmune reactions to inorganic and methyl mercury have been found to be relatively independent, occurring in over 10% of controls. In the population of over 3,000 patients tested by MELISA, the following percentages tested positive for lymphocyte reactivity:

nickel-34%, inorganic mercury-22%, phenyl mercury-15%, methyl mercury-8%, gold-10%,

palladium-10%, cadmium-11%, silver-1%. Groups with autoimmune symptoms such as oral lichen planus, CFS, MS, lupus, etc. generally have high percentages with lymphocyte reactivity to metals(60,342,405). Among a population of patients being tested for autoimmune problems, 94% of such patients had significant immune reactions to inorganic mercury(MELISA test,60,313,405) and 72% had immune reactions to low concentrations of HgCl2(<0.5 ug/ml). Of a population of 86 patients with CFS symptoms who had amalgam fillings replaced, 78% reported significant health improvement in a relatively short time period after replacent, and MELISA test scores had a significant reduction in lymphocyte reactivity compared to pre replacement(342). The MELISA test has proved successful in diagnosing and treating environmentally caused autoimmune diseases such as MS, SLE, oral lichen planus, CFS,etc. (60,313,342,405). A high percentage of patients subjectively diagnosed with CNS and systemic symptoms suggestive of mercury intoxication have been found to have immune reactivity to inorganic mercury(MELISA test,118), and likewise for MRI positive patients for brain damage. Controls without CNS problems did not have such positive correlations. Nickel, palladium, and gold have also been found to induce autoimmunity in genetically predisposed or highly exposed individuals (60,118,313,314,234,130). Tests have found a significant portion of people(over 10%) to be in this category and thus more affected by exposure to amalgam than others. Once compromised by a toxic substance that depletes the immune protectors and causes autoimmunity, the immune system is more susceptible to being sensitized to other toxic chemicals, a factor in multiple chemical sensitivity(MCS). Mercury also causes a reduction in thyroid production(50) and an accumulation in the thyroid of radiation. Among those with chronic immune system problems with related immune antibodies, the types showing the highest level of antibody reductions after amalgam removal include glomerular basal membrane, thyroglobulin, and microsomal thyroid antigens(91).

VI. Recovery from Chronic Neurological and Immune Related Diseases After Amalgam Removal and Mercury Detoxification

There are extensive documented cases (many thousands) where removal of amalgam fillings led to cure of serious health problems such as MS(94,102,170,212,222,271, 291,302,34,35,229), ALS(97,229,35), Parkinson's(248,212,229,35), Alzheimer'(204). SLE(113,212,222,229,233,60),RA(212), OLP(86,87,90,168), depression(107,294,212,229,233,317,320,322), and many other chronic conditions(500). In several of the studies, over 75% of those with MS and having amalgams replaced recovered or had significant improvement(212(a),(b),(e),302,222,35). Some of the studies reported similar success rates for SLE but with lower number of cases treated.

Clinical studies have found that patch testing is not a good predictor of success of amalgam removal, as a high percentage of those testing negative also recovered from chronic conditions after replacement of fillings(86,87,90). Follow up tests for autoimmune reaction to inorganic mercury after amalgam replacement have found that in most patients tested, the immune reaction as well as most symptoms disappear over time (60,313.etc.).

The level of mercury in the gums is often 1200 ppm near a gold cap on an amalgam filling(30,25,35,48,58,194). These levels are among the highest levels ever measured in tissues of living organisms, exceeding the highest levels found in chronically exposed chloralkali workers, those who died from mercury in Minamata, or animals that died from mercury poisoning. The FDA/EPA action level for warnings of dangerous levels in fish or food is 1 ppm.

Tests and Treatment

In a large German study of MS patients after amalgam revision, extraction resulted in 85%

recovery rate versus only 16% for filling replacement alone (302,,222). Another large clinic in Colorado has likewise found that more seriously affected cases often require more than simple replacement for successful treatment(35). Other clinics have found that recovery from serious autoimmune diseases, dementia, or cancer may require more aggressive mercury removal techniques than simple filling replacement due to body burden. This appears to be due to migration of mercury into roots & gums that is not eliminated by simple filling replacement. Also toxic metals, formaldehyde, and other toxic substances have been documented to accumulate in the jaw bone and tissue near teeth with multiple metals, as well as in pocketsfrom extracted teeth and form cavitations(areas of toxic materials and diseased bone). Such cavitations and toxic bacteria accumulating from root canaled teeth sometimes must be cleaned out before significant recovery can occur(35,302,,222,207,etc.). There is a direct connection between the teeth and gums with the brain and CNS by both travel along nerve fibers and through the cranio-vertebral venous system for etiher toxic substances such as mercury or for bacteria(34,325,207,etc.), The following protocol is perhaps the most used protocol for treating these conditions and has had considable success:

Huggins Total Dental Revision Protocol(35)

(a) history questionnaire and panel of tests.

(b) replace amalgam fillings starting with filling with highest negative current or highest negative quadrant, with supportive vitamin/mineral supplements.

© extract all root canaled teeth using proper finish protocol.

(d) test and treat cavitations and amalgam tattoos where relevant

(e) supportive supplementation, periodic monitoring tests, evaluate need for further treatment(not usually needed).

note: after treatment of many cases of chronic autoimmune conditions such as MS, ALS, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, CFS, Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, etc., it has been observed that often mercury along with root canal toxicity or cavitation toxicity are major factors in these conditions, and most with these condtions improve after TDR if protocol is followed carefully(35,500). Other measures in addition to TDR that have been found to help in treatment of MS in clinical experience are avoidance of milk products, get lots of sunlight, supplementation of calcium AEP(448) and alpha lipoic acid(448b). Progesterone creme has been found to promote regrowth of myelin sheaths in animals(448c).

Tests suggested by Huggins/Levy(35) for evaluation and treatment of mercury toxicity:

(a) hair element test(386) (low hair mercury level does not indicate low body level)(more than 3 essential minerals out of normal range indicates likely metals toxicity)

(b) CBC blood test with differential and platelet count

© blood serum profile

(d) urinary mercury (for person with average exposure with amalgam fillings, average mercury level is 3 to 4 ppm;

lower test level than this likely means person is poor excretor and accumulating mercury, often mercury toxic(35)

(e) fractionated porphyrin(note test results sensitive to light, temperature, shaking)

(f) individual tooth electric currents(replace high negative current teeth first)

(g) patient questionnaire on exposure and symptom history

Based on the known mechinisms of damage found in these conditions, the authors of

the study(463) suggest that supplementation with 100 mg MG, 25 mg vit B6, 10 mg vit B2, 15 mg Zn and 400 IU vit D and E, 100 &mgr;g Se, 180 mg EPA nd 120 mg DHA per day between 14 and 16 years of age may prevent MS, and reduce futher damage for those with the condition.

References

(2) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency(EPA), 1996, "Integrated Risk Information System, National Center for Environmental Assessment, Cincinnati, Ohio(& web).

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