Mat og Helse 44 nr 4 2006: The MELISA test reveals allergy (Article in Norwegian)
www.matoghelse.no/index.php?id=334172 or download as pdf

HEALTH WATCH: ALTERNATIVE PATH - EXPOSURE TO METAL LEADS TO ALLERGIES BYLINE: DR FINBAR MAGEE    
Medical technology has moved a long way. Since the first hip replacement where the surgeon used a doorknob as the replacement joint, there is a continuous search for materials that are biocompatible. Titanium has been more commonly used in the form of plates and screws and now clips. Like most metals it is not used by itself but in the form of an alloy ie: mixed with other metals to give it strength and durability. But the assumption that titanium is completely inert and therefore safe to the human body, is wrong.    

Metal allergy is type IV which is mediated by white cells called T- lymphocytes. Side effect symptoms can include eczema, chemical sensitivity, multiple sclerosis and chronic fatigue amongst others. To detect metal allergy the most accurate lab test is the MELISA test - developed by Professor Vera Stejskal (Professor of Immunology at the University of Stockolm and The University of Prague). The commonest metals to cause allergy include nickel, cadmium, gold, beryllium, titanium, palladium, indium, lead, mercury, tin, platinum, chromium and cobalt. One study in November two years ago(Neuroendocrinology Letters Vol 23) showed from 250 patients that nickel was the commonest allergen (73 per cent) but titanium (42 per cent) was in second place. It seems that titanium allergy is becoming more common and this is likely to be due to low dose repeated exposure from medicines (look at your tablet ingredients), cosmetics, pollution, foodstuffs and various medical pins screws plates and clips). Nutritional tablets also can contain titanium and should not.    

If you have chronic symptoms and have metals in you (fillings, plates, clips etc.) then you should have a MELISA test. The sooner this test is available on the NHS the better but I cannot foresee that for some time. An old patient of ours recently had her gall bladder removed and was unwell since with pain and bloating.  A titanium clip has been used in the keyhole surgery during her operation and her surgeon refuses to believe that this clip could have anything to do with her problems! We are running a MELISA test for her.     There are awful problems in medicine and not just with the products. Arrogance and ignorance contribute Let's face it no one knows everything and most of us know very little when it comes down to it.
Belfast News Letter (Northern Ireland), January 18, 2005