A case of human adjuvant disease with clinical features of Guillain-Barré syndrome

Abstract

A 69-year-old female developed subacute diplopia, right peripheral facial nerve palsy, bilateral upper and lower extremities dysesthesia and weakness 50 years after silicone injection for breast augmentation. Motor conduction study revealed prolonged distal latency and reduced amplitude in the median, ulnar, and peroneal nerves. Sensory conduction velocities were reduced in the median and ulnar nerves, and sensory potential in the sural nerve could not be recorded. While intravenous immunoglobulin therapy was ineffective, explantation of silicone breast implants improved her neurological symptoms. Histopathological study of axillary lymph node revealed foreign body granulomas and macrophages phagocyting silicone. The patient was diagnosed with human adjuvant disease presenting clinical features of Guillain-Barré syndrome. Human adjuvant disease should be considered in the patients with implants like silicone and neurological symptoms.