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Christine Daecher, DO

The Problem with Hypermobile Joints


Many people believe having flexible joints is an asset, and to some degree, this is true. People with hypermobile joints tend to be long and lean, with long, thin necks. Not all of their joints may be flexible. When standing with arms stretched, the arm span should be the same as height, but with hypermobile joints, the arm span is greater than height. Hypermobile joints may carry an increased risk of immune-related problems.

Hypermobile joints
Hypermoble joints. Notice the shoulders, elbows, loose hamstrings, arms are long

If you have hypermobile joints and many other symptoms, it may be a good idea to have HLA (human leukocyte antigen) checked. HLA is a gene that is related to the regulation of the immune system. There are many variations of HLA, with some having a significantly increased risk of immune issues. HLA 11-3-52B is the genotype most commonly found in persons with hypermobile joints, occurring in >50%. The problem with this genotype is that it connotes increased risk of several non-joint related proglems inclluding getting chronic Lyme and other biotoxin illnesses such as CIRS-WDB (Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome - Water Damaged Building), chronic ciguatura, and other dinoflagellate related illnesses.12 With biotoxin illnesses, the immune system creates cytokines, and the initial non-specific attack of foreign antigens (particles) occurs, but antibody formation does not occur. Without antibody formation, there is no clearance of the foreign antigens, and unfettered inflammation continues with no end in sight. Basically, this is CIRS.


Further, people with 11-3-52B will have an increased risk of autoimmune conditions, especially if they first get CIRS-WDB or chronic Lyme. Autoimmune conditions, chronic Lyme, and CIRS-WDB result in increased levels of TGF β-1 (transforming growth factor beta 1). TGF β-1 is a growth factor cytokine. Think of cytokines as particles in the blood that regulate the immune system. We need TGF β-1, as it is anti-inflammatory, however, at high levels, it is inflammatory. When TGF β-1 is high, the risk of getting a restrictive lung disease is increased, especially with CIRS-WDB.


Aneurysms are also more common due to the poor integrity of connective tissues caused by a paucity of crosslinked collagen, which is also why joints are more hypermobile.


Leading Alzheimer's Disease specialist Dr. Dale Bredesen also has found 11-3-52B to be most strongly associated with "Inhalation Alzheimer's Disease"3, in which the inhaled trigger is the mold particles, actinomyces (a bacteria), and endotoxin (a cell membrane component on gram-negative bacteria) found in water-damaged buildings. The problem with these particles is that in susceptible people, they cause significant inflammation and a leaky blood-brain barrier, which causes further brain inflammation.


Most people, especially younger people, with hypermobile joints will not need to worry much. However, it is very important to avoid living in and working in buildings that have had any form of water damage, as chronic exposure to certain mold particles, bacterial breakdown products, and VOCs caused by these microorganisms can trigger CIRS. Water damage is not just flooding and significant leaks but also includes problems with HVAC ductwork, the building envelope, the presence of crawlspaces or basements, and areas of high humidity. Visible mold and musty smells are helpful warning signs about a "sick building," but most mold is odorless, and it is the presence of certain bacteria that flourish in water-damaged buildings that cause the odor.


Citations:




3 Bredesen DE. Inhalational Alzheimer's disease: an unrecognized - and treatable - epidemic. Aging (Albany NY). 2016 Feb;8(2):304-13. doi: 10.18632/aging.100896. PMID: 26870879; PMCID: PMC4789584.


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