title: Autoimmune reactions in patients with silicone breast implants.
abstract: Silicone breast implants have been surgical routine for over 30 years. An association between silicone augmentation and immune related diseases has been reported in approximately 100 cases. In a retrospective single center study we investigated 36 non-selected women with silicone breast implants and 36 sex- and age-matched controls. Autoimmune reactions were evaluated by measuring antinuclear antibodies (ANA), rheumatoid factor (RF) and thyroid gland antibodies (TMS), along with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), C-reactive protein (CRP) and other immunological and laboratory parameters. In the controls only 3 (8%) women had an elevated ANA titer and 1 demonstrated thyroid autoantibodies (microsomal), giving a total of 4 (11%) women with detectable autoantibodies. By contrast, 12 (33%) of the 36 women with silicone augmentation had raised ANA titers (> or = 1 : 80), a significantly higher percentage than in the control group (p < 0.02). Of the 12 women, 1 showed antismooth muscle antibodies (ASMA; titer 1 : 40) and 2 of the patients displayed antineutrophilic cytoplasm antibodies (ANCA; 1 : 320 and 1 : 40, respectively), one of the latter also being positive for rheumatoid factor. 2 further women demonstrated thyroid autoantibodies (microsomal), giving a total of 14 (39%) women in whom significant autoantibodies were detectable. Clinical symptoms (musculoskeletal) were present in 1 patient. Most of the observed autoantibodies were organ-unspecific, with a predominance of elevated ANA titers of the heterogeneous type and not related to a distinct clinical entity. However, none of the investigated women with silicone breast implants showed clinical symptoms or signs of connective tissue disease according to ARA criteria.
authors.affiliation: II. Department of Medicine, General Hospital Linz.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zazgornik
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Piza
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kaiser
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bettelheim
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Steiner
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smolen
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Biesenbach
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Maschek
mesh_terms: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001317:Austria; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000276:immunology; D018427:Breast Implants; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016462:Mammaplasty; D008875:Middle Aged; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000276:immunology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012828:Silicones / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D001323:Autoantibodies; D012828:Silicones