Oral manifestations of gold allergy.

BACKGROUND: Sensitization to gold in a large group of patients suspected of clinical allergy to this metal has not been reported.

OBJECTIVE: Two hundred patients with symptoms of persistent oral mucosal or cutaneous lesions that were possibly related to allergy to constituents of gold alloys or gold jewelry were patch tested to determine the frequency of sensitization.

METHODS: Patch testing was performed with the European standard series and a series of dental materials including three different salts of gold. A persistent papular reaction to gold-(tri)chloride was considered a positive reaction.

RESULTS: In 17 patients (8.5%, all women, mean age 50.2 years) persistent papular patch test reactions to both 0.5% and 1.0% gold(tri)chloride were observed. In five of seven patients with oral lichen planus (OLP) and in one of six patients with the burning mouth syndrome, gold in the dentures was replaced. Particularly in patients with OLP, a significant but variable improvement was observed. In all cases in which gold was replaced and improvement occurred, the patients were sensitized to 0.5% gold(tri)chloride. One patient with allergic contact stomatitis and one patient with allergic contact dermatitis healed completely after gold had been replaced.

CONCLUSION: Sensitization to gold should be considered as a possible cause of allergic contact dermatitis and allergic contact stomatitis as well as a pathogenic or triggering factor in OLP.