Fresh Warning Over Toxic Metal Hip Replacements... Now Doctors Claim They Could Cause Alzheimer's

• There are concerns that the devices are leaching toxic chemicals into the blood
• MHRA said last month patients would be called in to check for adverse reactions
• Now a spokesman said it was also keeping an eye on a possible link to dementia

Doctors are being urged to check for signs of dementia or heart disease in hip implant patients.

There are concerns that the metal-on-metal devices are leaching toxic chemicals into the blood which cause serious health complications.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency announced last month that patients would be called in for x-rays and blood tests to check for adverse reactions.

Now a spokesman for the watchdog said it was also keeping a 'weather eye' on a possible link to heart attacks and dementia.

Dr Neil McGuire, clinical director of medical devices at the MHRA, said he wanted to establish whether cobalt leached from the implants was causing adverse effects.




Patients with the 'metal on metal' hip implants will be advised to have X-rays and undergo blood tests due to fears of their toxicity

'It may turn out that we're chasing smoke, but it may not. If we do find something we're not going to keep quiet about it,' he told The Times.

'We're always balancing depriving people of the benefits of these devices versus protecting people from harm.

'We don't want to set a lot of hares running if there's nothing to find. It may be at the end of it we say, "There's nothing to see here folks".'

Controversial replacements

Up to 56,000 patients in the UK have had the controversial metal replacements which have been linked to muscle and bone damage as well as problems with the nervous system.

HIP IMPLANT SCANDAL

In 2010, two hip implants made by company DePuy were withdrawn from the market after concerns about their safety.

These accounted for around 10,000 of the metal on metal hips fitted in the UK since 2003.

Lawyers representing hundreds of patients who were given the DePuy ASR – used in hip resurfacing – and ASR XL – used in a full replacement – prepared compensation claims.

All patients who had these products were advised to see a doctor to check levels of cobalt and chromium in their blood and whether they have any muscle damage.

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