These current data demonstrate that the expressions of cytokines IL-5, IL-13, and IL-1beta mRNA and the number of dermal infiltrating eosinophils are increased in ADe patients compared with ADi patients.

These findings raise the possibility that early osteolysis in patients with this second-generation metal-on-metal hip replacement is associated with abnormalities consistent with delayed-type hypersensitivity to metal. A prospective study in which a large group of patients is evaluated with multiple diagnostic methods is needed in order to establish whether there is a causal relationship between metal hypersensitivity and osteolysis.

No abstract