Fw: A PROFILE OF SYMPTOMATIC PATIENTS WITH SILICONE BREAST IMPLANTS:A SJOGRENS-LIKE SYNDROME

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Subject: A PROFILE OF SYMPTOMATIC PATIENTS WITH SILICONE BREAST IMPLANTS:A

SJOGRENS-LIKE SYNDROME

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A PROFILE OF SYMPTOMATIC PATIENTS WITH SILICONE BREAST IMPLANTS: A

SJOGRENS-LIKE SYNDROME

Author: Freundlich B; Altman C; Snadorfi N; Greenberg M; Tomaszewski J

Address: Graduate Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19146. Source: Semin Arthritis

Rheum, 1994 Aug, 24:1 Suppl 1, 44-53

Abstract: Exposure of breast tissue to silicone has been associated with

autoimmune diseases in the medical literature since the 1960's. Japanese

women

injected with raw silicone had features of a collagen vascular disease but

did

not meet criteria for a specific diagnosis. Subsequently, we have seen women

with silicone breast implants that have similar problems. We performed a

prospective noncontrolled study on women with silicone breast implants.

Results from the first 50 consecutive women revealed the most prominent

complaints in this group were fatigue (89%), generalized stiffness (75%),

poor

sleep (71%), and arthralgias (78%). Other problems included Raynaud's

phenomenon, alopecia, adenopathy, night sweats, and frequent sore throats.

Unexpectedly, half of these women complained of dry eyes and dry mouths.

Positive antinuclear antibodies and or rheumatoid factors were discovered in

38% of patients although the anti-SSA antibody was found in only one patient

and anti-SSB in none.

Labial salivary gland biopsies in 5 cases showed mononuclear cell

infiltrates

compatible with Sjögren's syndrome in 4. The infiltrating cells were

predominantly CD68 positive monocyte/macrophages, which is different from

what

is found in Sjögren's syndrome. These findings may indicate the presence of

a

unique syndrome associated with silicone implants that is characterized by

musculoskeletal pain and autoimmune features.