Silicone breast implants and connective tissue disease

Abstract

The American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently introduced a temporary stop for silicone breast prosthesis implants. The reason is a suspected connection between silicone implants and the development of autoimmune disease. The present authors have reviewed the 32 cases of connective tissue disease which have hitherto been reported in the literature, of these 13 were cases of systemic sclerodermia. On the basis of approximately 2 million silicone prosthesis implants which were introduced in USA alone during the past 20 years, approximately 200 cases of systemic sclerodermia would be anticipated. Nevertheless, the fact that several patients had spontaneous remission of their chronic disease after removal of the silicone implant speaks in favour of a possible connection. It is concluded that on account of the limited number of cases of connective tissue disease which have been reported in patients with silicone implants, insufficient evidence is present to stop implantation of these. Implantation of prostheses filled with saline are recommended for patients with connective tissue disease.