Avaliação dos níveis de mercúrio no cabelo de pacientes com lúpus eritematoso sistêmico em um ambulatório do SUS na cidade de Manaus

Abstract

Mercury is a ubiquitous metal with immunotoxic potential in rodents. In highly susceptible mouse strains mercury can induce lymphoproliferation, elevated level of autoantibodies, immune complexes formation and glomerulonephritis. In humans, mercury’s effects are not so clear. A few studies show higher prevalence of SLE and ANA in people living at high mercury concentration areas. In the Amazon, human and environmental samples have been showing high mercury levels even in areas where anthropogenic sources are unexpressive. Some studies found higher prevalence of ANA in communities where hair mercury levels crossed the tolerable stipulated by WHO. This study aimed to evaluate mercury’s influence on lupus genesis and clinical expression in amazonians by measuring total mercury hair levels in these patients and healthy controls paired by age and gender. The results (median) for total mercury levels were 1,20 µg g-1 e 1,14 µg g-1 for patients and controls respectively (p = 0,607). When clinical manifestations, autoantibodies and disease activity were analysed, we didn’t find association with hair mercury concentration as well. This was the first study evaluating mercury levels on amazonian lupus patients. The lack of association found in this study doesn`t refute the possibility of mercury’s impact on the disease. More studies are needed, focusing on manifested SLE in amazonians.