Dear Colleagues,

All metal-containing joint replacement prostheses release metal debris into the local and systemic tissue environments. This debris arises as a result of wear and corrosion at the prosthesis surfaces. Local adverse tissue responses to this released metal have resulted in a substantially higher prosthesis failure rate in prostheses using cobalt–chromium at the bearing surfaces and other modular interfaces. Case reports of severe systemic illness involving cardiac, neurological, and other distant organ systems have also been associated with excessive wear or corrosion of cobalt–chromium alloy-containing prostheses. Despite this burden of clinical disease associated with metal ion exposure, the magnitude of the underlying risk associated with metal-on-metal bearings and interfaces remains unclear and the relevant molecular pathways are poorly characterized.

This Special Issue of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences will focus on recent advances in our understanding of “Adverse Reactions to Metal Debris”, including new insights into the epidemiology as it relates to disease mechanisms, pathogenesis, and molecular biology of ARMD. The issue will include articles addressing both adverse responses at the local tissue level and those addressing the effects at distant organ sites. Topics will include those exploring the relationship between magnitude of exposure and disease burden, the spectrum of organ systems that may be implicated, toxicology, disease biomarkers, and the biological mechanisms that underpin the observed pathologies.

Prof. Dr. Mark Wilkinson
Guest Editor

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• cobalt
• chromium
• exposure
• adverse response to metal debris
• epidemiology
• pathogenesis
• biomarker
• toxicology