What is the MELISA test?

MELISA is an optimised, clinically validated blood test which establishes allergy to a number of different metals from a single blood test. MELISA can also diagnose active Lyme disease.

Metal allergy and orthopaedics

Metal allergy is a well-documented factor in the failure of implants. The need for allergy testing in sensitive patients is recognized by both implant manufacturers and by surgeons alike. The prevalence of metal hypersensitivity in patients with implants is significantly higher than in the general population, with an even higher prevalence rate among patients with failing implanted devices (6). Studies show that lymphocyte transformation tests are better suited for diagnosing possible metal sensitivity in patients with implants than traditional patch testing (7). Implant-related hypersensitivity reactions are mediated by sensitized T cells and the relationship between skin hypersensitivity and systemic hypersensitivity is ill defined. Lack of standardization, subjective evaluation and irritative reactions also contribute to reduced reliability.

MELISA is particularly useful in diagnosing titanium allergy

The Mayo clinic found no positive reactions to titanium in over a decade of patch testing despite many published cases of titanium allergy (8). In a 2006 study, 56 symptomatic patients exposed to titanium through dental implants were tested with MELISA. Of the 56 patients tested, 21 (37.5%) were positive to titanium. Conversely all patients were patch test negative to titanium. Following the removal of titanium implants in hypersensitive patients showed remarkable clinical improvement (9). It is important to remember that traces of other metals such as nickel and aluminium are found even in commercially pure titanium due to the production process (5, 10).

Recent studies have shown that allergy to the constituents in bone cements (11, 12) may be a causal factor in joint failure. MELISA is able to test for certain constituents of bone cements to determine whether an individual is hypersensitive.

Facebook related cases:

1. D9611.- Titanium Allergy - Melisa test

YouTube related cases:

1. Possible titanium dental implant allergy solved with a CeraRoot zirconia implant.

POSTED IN: Treatments updates - MELISA