Anti-collagen Autoantibodies are Found in Women with Silicone Breast Implants

doi:10.1006/jaut.1993.1031

Journal of Autoimmunity

Volume 6, Issue 3, June 1993, Pages 367-377

https://doi.org/10.1006/jaut.1993.1031 Get rights and content

Abstract

There have been several anecdotal reports that silicone breast implants are associated with an increased incidence of autoimmune disease. Based upon these data as well as the theoretical potential of silicon and silicone immune interactions, we hypothesized that an immune response to a silicone breast implant would include host reactivity against components of the microenvironment within the implant milieu. To test this hypothesis, we obtained detailed histories and performed examinations of 57 consecutive, self-referred patients concerned about their breast implants. Eleven of these women were excluded for various reasons including previous exposure to bovine collagen. The remaining 46 women, as well as 45 normal women of approximately the same age and living in the same geographic region, were tested using a sensitive ELISA for the presence of autoantibodies to human native type I collagen, denatured type I collagen, native type II collagen and denatured type II collagen. Known positive and negative sera were included in all assays and the ELISA was performed and interpreted blindly. Positive sera were defined as an ELISA value of three standard deviations above the mean of the normal controls. Using these stringent criteria, there was a statistically significant incidence of antibodies to collagen in women with silicone breast implants. In fact, 35% of women with silicone breast implants had such antibodies; this is higher than we have observed in any other autoimmune disease and is similar to that of chronic erosive rheumatoid arthritis. We believe that silicone breast implants, in genetically susceptible hosts, may pose a significant risk for immunopathology.

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Karlson et al. [92] concluded that there is just an isolated decrease in C3 and C4 levels in women with breast implants, in the absence of other abnormalities. On the other hand, Teuber et al. [93] found a significant incidence of antibodies to collagen in women with SBI (in 35% of cases). To summarize, most of these reports suggest that silicone implants cause a negligible and nonspecific foreign body reaction, sometimes with autoimmune antibodies, with no clear association with overt autoimmune disease.
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Regular ArticleAnti-collagen Autoantibodies are Found in Women with Silicone Breast Implants

Abstract

Regular Article
Anti-collagen Autoantibodies are Found in Women with Silicone Breast Implants