title: Silicone breast implants and autoimmunity: causation, association, or myth?
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: University of Southern California, School of Medicine, Los Angeles 90057, USA.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Brautbar
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vojdani
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D015415:Biomarkers; D012828:Silicones