ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Risks from electromagnetic devices are of considerable concern. Electrohypersensitive (EHS) persons attribute a variety of rather unspecific symptoms to the exposure to electromagnetic fields. The pathophysiology of EHS is unknown and therapy remains a challenge. OBJECTIVES: Heavy metal load has been discussed as a potential factor in the symptomatology of EHS patients. The main objective of the study was to test the hypothesis of a link between EHS and heavy metal exposure. METHODS: We measured lead, mercury and cadmium concentrations in the blood of 132 patients (n=42 males and n=90 females) and 101 controls (n=34 males and n=67 females). RESULTS: Our results show that heavy metal load is of no concern in most cases of EHS but might play a role in exceptional cases. CONCLUSIONS: The data do not support the general advice to heavy metal detoxification in EHS.
Subject(s)
Electromagnetic Fields/adverse effects , Environmental Exposure/adverse effects , Hypersensitivity/etiology , Metals, Heavy/adverse effects , Body Burden , Cadmium/adverse effects , Cadmium/blood , Environmental Exposure/analysis , Female , Humans , Hypersensitivity/blood , Hypersensitivity/physiopathology , Lead/adverse effects , Lead/blood , Male , Mercury/adverse effects , Mercury/blood , Metals, Heavy/blood , Middle AgedABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: For the first time, technical developments in helical, high-resolution 64-slice computer-assisted-tomographical-scanning (CT) allows for analysis of cardiac pathology including coronary morphology. Here, we present results of a multicenter study assessing the value CT-angiography as a preoperative diagnostic tool in identifying target vessels for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery. METHODS: Thirty-two patients aged 64+/-9.0 years, 30 with confirmed coronary disease (angiography or scintigraphy) and 2 controls, underwent helical CT analysis. Scans were reviewed in a blinded fashion and potential target vessels for CABG were identified by seven individual reviewers. Results were compared with those from conventional coronary angiography and with the target vessels chosen at surgery. RESULTS: Results showed a high positive predictive value for targeting at surgery, which was comparable for both conventional angiography and CT scan (LAD 100% vs 97%, RCx 96% vs 93%, 67% vs 56%). In one patient, who presented with clinical signs of CAD and positive scintigraphy results, conventional angiography revealed no stenotic lesion and CT scan was used to confirm main stem disease. CONCLUSIONS: CT-angiography sufficiently allows for target vessel determination for CABG. In individual cases, visual assessment of the left main coronary artery and the proximal left anterior descending artery (LAD) via CT-angiography may be superior to conventional angiography. However, while there is no difference in positive predictive targeting value, sensitivity and specificity of conventional angiography is still superior. Also, improvements in the methodology of evaluation and presentation of CT-findings are necessary. Our data suggest that CT-angiography may be used as a clinical alternative to conventional angiography in preoperative assessment for cardiac surgery.
