Silicate antibodies in Danish women with silicone breast implants.
OBJECTIVE
To use a new immunological assay to evaluate silicate antibody levels in women with and without silicone breast implants (SBIs).


METHODS
Women (n=186) were identified through Danish population-based registers and categorized into six groups defined by prior breast surgery (breast implantation/breast reduction/no breast surgery) and by the presence or absence of prior hospital diagnoses of soft-tissue rheumatism (muscular rheumatism, ICD-8 codes 717.90 and 717.99). The women underwent blood tests, a silicate antibody assay and a clinical examination. Severity of rheumatic symptoms/signs was scored from 1 (none) to 5 (severe).


RESULTS
The level of silicate antibodies was not significantly different between the three groups with prior soft-tissue rheumatism (P > 0.5), with the lowest value among women with SBIs. Among women who had no prior diagnosis of soft-tissue rheumatism, silicate antibody levels were highest in women with SBIs (P < 0.01). No significant correlations were observed between silicate antibody levels and symptom severity scores.


CONCLUSIONS
Silicate antibodies were not consistently associated with SBIs and were not correlated with rheumatic symptoms. The clinical relevance of these antibodies remains questionable.
Parker Institute, Frederiksberg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark. bjensen@aab11.dk
B
B
Jensen
A
A
Wiik
I
I
Hechmann Wittrup
S
S
Friis
G-Q
GQ
Shen
H
H
Bliddal
J K
JK
McLaughlin
B
B
Lykke Thomsen
B
B
Danneskiold-Samsøe
J H
JH
Olsen
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D018427:Breast Implants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D017640:Silicates / Q000276:immunology*; D020034:Silicone Gels / Q000009:adverse effects*
D000906:Antibodies; D017640:Silicates; D020034:Silicone Gels