A prospective study on silicone breast implants and the silicone-related symptom complex.
This cohort study prospectively evaluated the prevalence of the silicone-related symptom complex (SRSC) in relation to antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of silicone breast implants (SBI) 1 year after implantation. A total of 57 women undergoing mastectomy followed by immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) and SBI between March 1995 and March 1997 at the University Hospital Rotterdam/Daniel den Hoed Cancer Centre, were prospectively evaluated. Just before and 1 year after IBR the sera of these women were tested for the presence of ANA and they were screened for the prevalence of SRSC-related symptoms by questionnaire. All prostheses were evaluated by MRI 1 month and 1 year after IBR. Just before operation 11% of the women had a Sjögren score of more than 2, whereas 30% had such a score 1 year after IBR ( P = 0.01). One year postoperatively women had significantly more RA/Raynaud-related complaints: 21% preoperatively versus 40% 1 year after IBR ( P = 0.03). Within the undefined complaints-related group 19% had a score of 2 or more preoperatively and 33% 1 year after IBR ( P = 0.09). There were no new cases of ANA positivity 1 year after IBR. The linguine sign was seen by MRI in three implants: one 1 month after IBR and two 1 year after IBR. There was no relation to changes in SRSC expression and these MRI findings. In conclusion, 1 year after SBI implantation women had more SRSC-related complaints, especially Sjögren's and RA/Raynaud's. Moreover there was no correlation between elevated SRSC expression and changes in the presence of ANA or changes in MRI of the SBI 1 year after IBR.
University Hospital Rotterdam/Daniel den Hoed Cancer Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
C M E
CM
Contant
A J G
AJ
Swaak
A I M
AI
Obdeijn
B
B
van der Holt
R
R
Tjong Joe Wai
A N
AN
van Geel
A M M
AM
Eggermont
D000328:Adult; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis; D018427:Breast Implants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D020034:Silicone Gels / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D020034:Silicone Gels