The search for reliable biomarkers of disease in multiple chemical
sensitivity and other environmental intolerances.
De Luca C, Raskovic D, Pacifico V, Thai JC, Korkina L.
Tissue Engineering & Skin Pathophysiology Laboratory and 2nd
Dermatology Division, Dermatological Research Institute (IDI IRCCS)
Abstract
Whilst facing a worldwide fast increase of food and environmental
allergies, the medical community is also confronted with another
inhomogeneous group of environment-associated disabling conditions,
including multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), fibromyalgia, chronic
fatigue syndrome, electric hypersensitivity, amalgam disease and
others.
These share the features of poly-symptomatic multi-organ cutaneous and
systemic manifestations, with postulated inherited/acquired impaired
metabolism of chemical/physical/nutritional xenobiotics, triggering
adverse reactions at exposure levels far below
toxicologically-relevant values, often in the absence of clear-cut
allergologic and/or immunologic involvement.
Due to the lack of proven pathogenic mechanisms generating measurable
disease biomarkers, these environmental hypersensitivities are
generally ignored by sanitary and social systems, as psychogenic or
"medically unexplained symptoms".
The uncontrolled application of diagnostic and treatment protocols not
corresponding to acceptable levels of validation, safety, and clinical
efficacy, to a steadily increasing number of patients demanding
assistance, occurs in many countries in the absence of evidence-based
guidelines.
Here we revise available information supporting the organic nature of
these clinical conditions. Following intense research on gene
polymorphisms of phase I/II detoxification enzyme genes, so far
statistically inconclusive, epigenetic and metabolic factors are under
investigation, in particular free radical/antioxidant homeostasis
disturbances. The finding of relevant alterations of catalase,
glutathione-transferase and peroxidase detoxifying activities
significantly correlating with clinical manifestations of MCS, has
recently registered some progress towards the identification of
reliable biomarkers of disease onset, progression, and treatment
outcomes.
The full article can be read here:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3155329/?tool=pubmed
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