EP15 - Metal Allergy Mysteries - Immunologist Insights on the Innate & Adaptive Immune System w/Dr. Marco Caicedo, Ph.D.

Dr. Marco Caicedo is the Chief Operating Officer of Orthopedic Analysis, and an adjunct professor at Rush University Medical Center in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery. Dr. Caicedo has dedicated his life and career to the study of immune reactions in regards to metal hypersensitivity and is the author of many published scholarly journal articles on the same. 

We discuss the early-on resistance of orthopedic surgeons, immunologists and other medical peers to the concept of reactivity to metal implants, and go on to discuss how the immune system often views and regulates the presence of metal implants, small or large, and other foreign bodies. Inflammasome Danger Signaling is occurs as the body mounts a strategic response to encapsulate and rid the body, if possible, of the offending foreign material. Innate immune responses are discussed, where macrophages exposed to ions induce an inflammatory response. 

On the other hand, with adaptive immune responses which occur over a longer period of time, macrophages recruit more antigens, which send out signals to pick up lymphocytes and T-cells and it all spirals into an often out-of-control inflammatory response cycle. 

Type 1 through Type IV hypersensitivity is discussed–many times patients can present with MULTIPLE types of hypersensitivity reactions to the same allergen–along with the individuality of different patient immune systems. The same allergen present can manifest in a litany of different symptoms and syndromes from individual to individual, making it sometimes difficult to diagnose and categorize.. A discussion also ensues around allergy versus immune reaction, and how one is often mistaken for another. We also discuss allergy versus infection. 

We discuss headway that may be in the making in regards to the FDA and a 175 page document on metal hypersensitivity reactions, released in 2019. It is now documented that metal allergies are of concern, but there is still a long way to go. 

Metal implants and allergies are not going away anytime soon. They are actually on the rise. The secret is going to lie in more studies, more screening, more testing, more advocacy and more alternative solutions for implants and revision surgeries. 

Episode 16 will cover the actual LTT testing offered by Orthopedic Analysis. Stay tuned….

In this episode you will learn:

• The difference between innate & adaptive immune responses. 

• How patients with metal sensitivities frequently have severe reactions to additional metal constituents. These can be allergic responses OR immune reactivity. They can look the same, but are different. 

• Treatments and implants on the horizon that may be of help to metal-allergic patients with chronic inflammation & increased options for materials & tolerance to surgical implants 

~Links and Resources~

~ Check out the Orthopedic Analysis website https://www.orthopedicanalysis.com/

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~Access some of Dr. Caicedo’s scholarly and journal publications HERE:

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***Many WONDERFUL, supportive special-interest communities exist for metal allergies and diet, hardware issues, medical devices, etc., online and on social media. They have many resources and often act as a collective think-tank. I owe many parts of my recovery to knowledge obtained in such groups. Search keywords to join these groups and find your tribe!***