Silicone study

[Guest guest]

Hi Patty,

I ran across this study in my research. I wanted to share it with you in case you haven't seen it! The study might be old. I don't see a date on it!

Wanda ~Thank you Wanda!~

SILICONE-SPECIFIC T-CELL REACTIVITY IN SALINE BREAST IMPLANTS AND NON-BREAST IMPLANT PATIENTS SILICONE-SPECIFIC T-CELL REACTIVITY IN SALINE BREAST IMPLANTS AND NON-BREAST IMPLANT PATIENTS Authors: Lawless, O. J., Ojo-Amaize, E. A., and , J. B. Address: Center for Arthritis Immunology and Environmental Disorders, Silver Spring, MD 20909, and Specialty Laboratories, Inc., Santa , CA 90404-

3900. Silicone-specific T-cell proliferative response to silicone antigens sodium silicate, silicone dioxide and silicone gel were detected in women with breast implants (Clin. Diagn. Lab. Immunol. 1:689-695, 1994) and linked clinically to atypical connective tissue, neurological and skin disorders and to severity of disability from these symptoms. Questions and controversies pertain to whether silicone-specific T-

cell reactivity is unique to women with silicone breast implants. In this study, we used silicone breast implants; three with saline breast implants; two with silicone tubal clamps; one with silicone retinal banding; and one with heart pacemaker. All had symptoms of atypical connective tissue, skin or neurological disease. The results are reported as stimulation index (SI) for each antigen used and as the average SI for all three antigens. A SI of > (3 standard deviations above controls) is defined as positive in this assay. Silicone-reactive T-cells were not restricted to silicone breast implant patients but were seen in patients with saline breast implants (3/3), silicone tubal clamps (1/2), silicone retinal band (1/1), and a cardiac pacemaker (1/1). The average SI for silicone implants is higher (7.5) than that for saline implants (3.9), however this could reflect duration rather than type of implant. The retinal band patient had an average SI of 6.8. These results provide the first evidence that silicone-reactive T-cells are associated with atypical connective tissue, skin and neurological symptoms and suggest that leakage or rupture of silicone implants is not essential for T- cell activation by silicone antigens and that saline implants with silicone envelope can likewise cause silicone-specific T-cell activation.

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