Dr Vera Stejskal PhD
Associate Professor of Immunology, University of Stockholm, Sweden

Prof. Vera Stejskal received her doctoral degree from Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic. After the Russian invasion of Czechoslovakia in August 1968, she left the country and went to Sweden. She started to work at the Dept. of Immunology at the University of Stockholm where she became Associated Professor of Immunology in 1976. In 1978 she became the Director of the Dept of Immunotoxicology at Astra pharmaceuticals, where she developed the MELISA® test for testing of Type IV allergies. Prof. Stejskal has been affiliated with the Dept of Clinical Chemistry, Danderyd's Hospital and Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden, conducting research in Clinical Immunotoxicology. From 2004-2012 was Associated Professor at the Dept of Immunology and Microbiology, 1st Medical Faculty at Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic, where she directed research on the pathological role of metals in chronic diseases. She is the author of more than 100 scientific publications and the owner of MELISA® trademark.

2012 - All that glitters is not gold - metal-induced inflammation as a key factor in age-related diseases.

Current treatment of inflammatory diseases such as cardiovascular diseases or neurodegenerative diseases are using drugs to decrease the inflammatory process.

The identification of the triggers of inflammation could be another way to treat these diseases. More than twenty years of research indicate that heavy and transition metals may induce local and systemic inflammation in susceptible individuals. A blood test can identify metal-specific T cells as well as memory cells to drugs, chemicals, food antigens and infections agents like Borrelia (Lyme disease).

This lecture will explain the reason why ubiquitous exposure to metal allergens – mainly from dental restorations such as fillings, crowns but also implants – might cause autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis or cardiovascular diseases. Few are aware that high nickel content might be present in metal-bound porcelain crowns, causing systemic symptoms such in nickel allergic individuals. Since nickel allergy is common, mainly in woman, many can be affected.
 
The reasons behind why this new knowledge has not yet been generally accepted and used in a clinical setting are discussed. In addition to this, ideas on how to change this will be presented.