Autoantibodies and Clinical Rheumatic Complaints in Two Children of Women with Silicone Gel Breast Implants

Abstract

Considerable interest and efforts are directed at determining the extent to which silicone gel breast implants may contribute to the risk of developing autoimmune disease. There is also comparable interest in determining the extent to which silicone may alter the natural history of an established autoimmune disease. Recently, there has been concern over the possibility that children of women with silicone breast implants might somehow be adversely affected because of either trans-mammary or trans-placental delivery of silicone during either breast feeding or pregnancy. Herein, we describe two children of mothers with silicone breast implants, both female, aged approximately 3 and 9 years, both of whom had long-standing myalgias that were unexplained and did not fit current clinical criteria for juvenile arthritis. Both were found to have positive antinuclear antibodies. Additionally, the 9-year-old girl was found to have a significantly high titer of antibodies against denatured human type II collagen; indeed, her titer was six standard deviations above the mean for normal controls. There have been numerous previous studies which have documented an adverse impact of trace metals, chemicals and some medications on the morphologic and neurologic development of children exposed in utero. Much less information exists on potential toxicity experienced by a neonate through breast feeding, although examples of toxic transmission have been reported. In Western Europe, but not the United States, women with silicone breast implants are advised not to breast feed. Further research should address these concerns and, in particular, women with silicone breast implants, with evidence of leakage or rupture, should refrain from breast feeding until further data are obtained.

Remission of Sarcoidosis following Removal of Silicone Gel Breast Implants

“…Of greater concern was that small quantities of both mono methyl and dimethyl silicon moities were found in a human milk sample [19]. This latter point is of particular interest because o f recent reports of immunopathology in children that nursed on mothers with silicone breast implants [20,21].…”

Controvérsia sobre a Doença do Implante de Silicone Mamário: Uma revisão sistemática sobre o tema

“…Os resultados de todos falharam ao relatar uma associação entre esses dispositivos e as condições mencionadas acima [13]. Logo depois, a Academia Americana de Neurologia publicou uma declaração [90] condições incluíam dificuldade em engolir, irritabilidade, erupções cutâneas inespecíficas e fadiga, entre outros sintomas [91][92][93][94][95][96]. Esses estudos não tinham um grupo controle; além disso, havia aparente viés de seleção, pois muitas dessas crianças nasceram de famílias com histórico de esclerodermia e dismotilidade esofágica.…”

Women’s Reports of Breast Implant Problems and Silicone-Related Illness

“…This used to be a very rich part of our relationship" and "My husband seldom touches me since I cannot feel him anyway." Still other women voiced concern for the children they had carried and breastfed within an environment of silicone, now known as second-generation effects (Levine & Ilowite, 1994;Teuber & Gershwin, 1994). One woman admitted she worries "every single day" about the long-term effects of her son's exposure to silicone.…”