Arthritis

Lead, mercury, and cadmium are linked to increased arthritis. Arthritis includes Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Psoriasis, Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, and Gout.

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IDENTIFICATION FOR HEAVY METALS EXPOSURE ON OSTEOARTHRITIS AMONG AGING PEOPLE AND MACHINE LEARNING FOR PREDICTION: A STUDY BASED ON NHANES 2011-2020

The overall and gender subgroup logistic regressions all showed that Lead and Cadmium promoted the prevalence of osteoarthritis while Manganese could be a protective factor of osteoarthritis prevalence among the elderly population of the United States.
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Xia, Fang et al. “Identification for heavy metals exposure on osteoarthritis among aging people and Machine learning for prediction: A study based on NHANES 2011-2020.” Frontiers in public health vol. 10 906774. 1 Aug. 2022, doi:10.3389/fpubh.2022.906774

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​COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF HEAVY METALS IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS AND HEALTHY CONTROL IN PAKISTANI POPULATION

​Concentration of heavy metals in serum samples of rheumatoid arthritis patients and healthy control individuals differ significantly which shows that heavy metals may have contribution towards development of rheumatoid arthritis.
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Irfan, Shazia et al. “Comparative Evaluation of Heavy Metals in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Healthy Control in Pakistani Population.” Iranian journal of public health vol. 46,5 (2017): 626-633.

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HEAVY METALS IN FISH AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH AUTOIMMUNITY IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF JUVENILE IDIOPATHIC ARTHRITIS: A PROSPECTIVE BIRTH COHORT STUDY

Moderate exposure to heavy metals, associated with fish consumption, during pregnancy and early childhood may cause effects on the immune system of the offspring, resulting in ANA positivity and JIA.

Aluminium is a potent stimulator of the immune system, which is the very reason it is used as an adjuvant. In the absence of Al most vaccinations fail to launch an adequate immune response. Pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-1 and interleukin-6, are needed for adequate stimulation of antibody-producing B-cells. These cytokines are induced by Al adjuvants in vaccines. Our results showed that cord blood aluminium does not correlate with fish consumption, but correlate with development of JIA. We have no explanation for this results. One can speculate about the source of the aluminium that leads to higher cord blood levels of Aluminium in JIA patients. Certain families may have been cooking in aluminium containers more often than other families. Another source could be intake of aluminium from foods (other than fish) or consumed by using aluminium-containing pharmaceuticals.

Kindgren, Erik et al. “Heavy metals in fish and its association with autoimmunity in the development of juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a prospective birth cohort study.” Pediatric rheumatology online journal vol. 17,1 33. 2 Jul. 2019, doi:10.1186/s12969-019-0344-3

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ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL EXPOSURE WITH HYPERURICEMIA AND GOUT IN GENERAL ADULTS

In this cross-sectional study based on general adults, we found an association between the level of blood mercury, lead and selenium and SUA. Our findings suggested that metal mixtures in blood were associated with an increased prevalence of hyperuricemia and gout, with the greatest effect coming from lead.

Xu, Jing et al. “Associations of metal exposure with hyperuricemia and gout in general adults.” Frontiers in endocrinology vol. 13 1052784. 2 Dec. 2022, doi:10.3389/fendo.2022.1052784

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EXPLORING THE LINK BETWEEN CADMIUM AND PSORIASIS IN A NATIONALLY REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE

Psoriasis, a skin inflammatory disease, originates from dysregulated interactions of the immune system. Cadmium, an environment pollutant, increases the levels of inflammation markers and influences the immune system. 

We demonstrated that psoriasis was independently associated with high blood cadmium. In a U.S. general population, participants with severe psoriasis have higher blood cadmium. Environmental exposure to cadmium may compromise immunity, and microenvironmental perturbation can predispose to the worsening of psoriasis. Given the widespread exposure to cadmium and the increasing cases of psoriasis, which increase the worldwide burden of metabolic syndrome, these data have substantial public health implications for the general population. Smoking, sidestream smoke and exposure to cadmium can exacerbate metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, and the results of this study demonstrate the importance of smoking cessation, avoidance of sidestream smoke, and prevention of exposure to cadmium, particularly among psoriasis patients. 

Liaw, Fang-Yih et al. “Exploring the link between cadmium and psoriasis in a nationally representative sample.” Scientific reports vol. 7,1 1723. 11 May. 2017, doi:10.1038/s41598-017-01827-9

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METALS AS A COMMON TRIGGER OF INFLAMMATION RESULTING IN NON-SPECIFIC SYMPTOMS: DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

In this study, reduction of inflammation-causing metals resulted in an alleviation of symptoms and long-term health improvement. The decrease of metal-specific lymphocyte responses in vitro after removal of sensitizing metals supports the clinical relevance of these findings. 

In addition to their well-known toxic effects, heavy and transition metals might function as immunologically active haptens as well as possess potent adjuvant inflammatory potential. In susceptible patients, chronic low dose exposure to metals may trigger inflammation and exacerbate already existing diseases. Cytokine release with deregulate the HPA axis and trigger non-specific symptoms, including profound fatigue and joint pain. In patients suffering from CFS, fibromyalgia or ASIA, laboratory markers of metal allergy, such as metal-specific memory lymphocytes, should always be measured. The proposed treatment protocol follows the standard procedure used in allergology and dermatology: namely, avoidance of exposure to sensitizing agent(s).

Lastly, it is of utmost importance to increase awareness among health professionals regarding the risk for systemic side effects caused by metal exposure in immunologically sensitized patients.

Stejskal, Vera. “Metals as a common trigger of inflammation resulting in non-specific symptoms: diagnosis and treatment.” The Israel Medical Association journal : IMAJ vol. 16,12 (2014): 753-8.