Silicone breast implants and autoimmunity: causation, association, or myth?
In vivo and in vitro studies, case reports and population studies show that: (1) silicone is immunogenic; (2) silicone is biodegradable and transported via the reticuloendothelial system to distant locations; (3) silicone breast implants "leak" and in turn silicone migrates outside the breast tissue; (4) case reports and population studies document an autoimmune reaction and immunological dysfunction in patients with silicone breast implants; (5) these immunological abnormalities and symptoms are reversible upon removal of the breast implants (in 50-70% of cases). The criteria to establish medical causation are defined, and based on those criteria it is concluded that silicone breast implants cause immunological disease.
Brautbar
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N
University of Southern California, School of Medicine, Los Angeles 90057, USA.
Campbell
A
A
Vojdani
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A
D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000592:standards; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D018427:Breast Implants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000592:standards; D015984:Causality; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D012828:Silicones / Q000009:adverse effects*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D015415:Biomarkers; D012828:Silicones