title: The inner and outer of our thorax: silicone breast implants and pulmonary alveolar proteinosis.
abstract: Pulmonary alveolar (phospholipo)proteinosis (PAP) is a rare lung disease, predominantly autoimmune in nature. This case report describes a patient with insidious dyspnoea since 5 years and a milky appearance of her bronchoalveolar fluid, leading to the diagnosis of PAP. The onset of symptoms coincided with an exchange of her silicone breast implants. Giant cell reaction in axillary adenopathies pointed towards silicone leakage. Adjuvants, such as silicone, might boost pre-existing antigen reactions of the immune system, potentially leading to autoimmune phenomena.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven , Belgium.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: De Backer
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Darquennes
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dooms
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yserbyt
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Coolen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Verschakelen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Verbeken
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vrints
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wuyts
mesh_terms: D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D018427:Breast Implants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006101:Granuloma, Giant Cell / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011649:Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D020034:Silicone Gels / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D020034:Silicone Gels
keywords: Autoimmune/inflammatory; Autoimmunity; Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis; Silicone; Syndrome induced by adjuvants