Lead poisoning from complementary and alternative medicine in multiple sclerosis

Fisher, Alexander A.; Couteur, David G. Le

doi:10.1136/jnnp.69.5.687

Cited by 9 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…A responsible medical attitude is recommended as patients have to continue to take advantage of conventional treatments and to avoid possible adverse effects of some CAM therapies which could even be severe as exemplified by a recent case report (Fisher and Le Cuteur, 2000). However, whilst patients should have every opportunity to benefit from CAM they should also receive accurate information by their doctors about efficacy/tolerability in terms of scientifically valid data.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 81%

Why physicians need to look more closely at the use of complementary and alternative medicine by multiple sclerosis patients

Pucci

Cartechini

Taus

et al. 2004

Euro J of Neurology

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With the aim of contributing to the knowledge of attitudes, patterns and motivations for the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for multiple sclerosis (MS), 109 MS outpatients, or their close relative in cases of mental status impairment, were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. The main results are: (i). 35.7% used at least one CAM at least once; (ii). homeopathy and diets were the most common; (iii). 39.4% showed a positive attitude towards CAM; (iv). a perceived benefit was recorded in 61.5% of cases; (v). the referral source was a physician in only 12.8% of cases; (vi). caring neurologist was not consulted in 82% and generalist was not consulted in 67% of cases; (vii). of 61 CAM interventions, 21 were expected to be disease-modifying and 40 symptomatic; (viii). CAM negatively influenced compliance with conventional medical management in very few cases (2/39); (ix). a higher expanded disability status scale (EDSS) was observed in CAM users; and (x). in those who used CAM during last 3 years (21.1%), the approximate mean cost per year per person was 483 euro. In Italy, the use of CAM in MS is widespread but costly. This study has provided further baseline data on which to assess trends in CAM use and has highlighted issues for patients and conventional doctors about the use of CAM to deal with health problems. More research into the implications of concurrent use of CAM with conventional medicine on public health care is required.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 81%

Why physicians need to look more closely at the use of complementary and alternative medicine by multiple sclerosis patients

Pucci

Cartechini

Taus

et al. 2004

Euro J of Neurology

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“…1,[16][17][18][19] This is further confounded because many of these therapies are used without knowledge by the treating physician. Although generally assumed to be safe, there is a rapidly growing body of literature attesting to potentially harmful effects and drug interactions of vitamins and herbs.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The use of alternative therapies by patients with Parkinson’s disease

2001

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The use of AT is common in patients with PD. The age at onset of PD is the most potent predictor of AT use. There is no association between the use of AT and the severity of PD. The widespread and largely unexamined use of AT for PD requires more attention. This should be directed at testing their safety and efficacy and improving physician and patient knowledge about the potential benefits, costs, limitations, and risks of AT.

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“…In this study, the pollutants in soil, especially the lead (Pb), may also play role in the increasing incidence of MS in industrialized countries. A case report study has described a patient with MS treated for neurological symptoms which were thought to be a progression of his disease but which were subsequently found to be caused by lead poisoning; his clinical signs improved with oral chelation therapy [19]. On the other hand, another study revealed that MS cases did not appear to cluster around the lead smelter in Jefferson County, Missouri, USA [20].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multiple Sclerosis Incidence Associated with the Soil Lead and Arsenic Concentrations in Taiwan

Tsai

Lee

2013

PLoS ONE

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BackgroundFew studies in the world have assessed the incidence of multiple sclerosis (MS) with soil heavy metal concentrations. We explored the association of soil heavy metal factors and the MS incidence in Taiwan.MethodsThere were 1240 new MS cases from the National Health Insurance Research Database and were verified with serious disabling disease certificates, 1997–2008. Soil heavy metal factors records included arsenic, mercury, cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, lead and zinc in Taiwan from 1986 to 2002. Spatial regression was used to reveal the association of soil heavy metals and age- and gender-standardized incidence ratios for townships by controlling sunlight exposure hours, smoking prevalence and spatial autocorrelation.ResultsThe lead (Pb) concentration in the soil positively correlated with the township incidence; on the other hand, the arsenic (As) concentration in soil negatively correlated with the township incidence and when found together controlled each other. The positive correlation of lead (Pb) predominated in males, whereas the negative correlation of arsenic (As) in soil predominated in females.ConclusionsWe conclude that exposure to lead (Pb) in soil positive associated with incidence of MS in Taiwan, especially in males. Exposure to arsenic (As) in soil negative associated with MS in Taiwan, especially in females.

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Lead poisoning from complementary and alternative medicine in multiple sclerosis

Cited by 9 publications

References 6 publications

Why physicians need to look more closely at the use of complementary and alternative medicine by multiple sclerosis patients

Why physicians need to look more closely at the use of complementary and alternative medicine by multiple sclerosis patients

The use of alternative therapies by patients with Parkinson’s disease

Multiple Sclerosis Incidence Associated with the Soil Lead and Arsenic Concentrations in Taiwan

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