Fw: Donation of Blood and Organs by Women with Breast Implants

[Guest guest]

From: " Ilena Rose " <ilena@...>

Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2001 3:33 PM

Subject: Donation of Blood and Organs by Women with Breast Implants

(perhaps best for the non-implanted to donate ... this was written in 1998

I believe)

http://www.howdyneighbor.com/JusticeDenied/page33.html

Donation of Blood and Organs by Women with Breast ImplantsÝ

ByÝ

F. Garry Ph.DÝ

A number of studies have demonstrated that the blood and organs of women

with silicone breast implants (SBI) contain elevated levels of silicone

(and its breakdown product silicon). Silicone is cytotoxic and

immunogenic. Although recipients of donated blood would have a single

exposure (e.g. not be continuously exposed to silicone from leaking or

ruptured SBI), individuals who receive blood are often of ill health and

persons who are organ recipients are always gravely ill. Thus, the

potential presence of toxic compounds should be avoided. A further

consideration is that donation of blood or organs containing even low

levels of silicone might sensitize or create a serological response to

silicone in the blood recipient. Unfortunately, there are not studies

which have addressed the issue of whether or not it is safe for women with

SBI to be blood or organ donors. In my opinion, women with breast implants

should be strongly discouraged from donating blood or organs.Ý

Last year, U.S. Rep. A. Trafican, Jr. (D-OH) introduced legislation

that would prohibit the donation of blood and organs by individuals with

silicone breast implants. This bill was favorable to women injured by SBI

in that it also called for more research on silicone toxicity and would

require silicone breast implant manufacturers to pay for the removal of

breast implants for any recipient that requests it. This bill has not yet

been passed but possible statutory prohibition on blood and organ donation

is another reason why women with implants may wish to reconsider

implantation of SBI.Ý

Breast-feeding and donation of breast milkÝ

Studies from several research groups have identified immunological

abnormalities in children who breast-feed from women with SBI. Some

children have developed a rare disorder, esophageal dismotility, which is

experienced by some women with schleroderma, an autoimmune disease.

Although these results are from small studies they are troubling indeed.

Obviously, larger controlled studies are necessary to determine whether or

not infants who breast-feed from women with SBI have experienced an

increase in immunological or other disorders. Many benefits accrue from

breast-feeding. However, the evidence at present is insufficient to

indicate whether or not it is safe to breast-feed with silicone (or

saline) breast implants. In my opinion, women with breast implants,

particularly those with signs and symptoms of silicone-related disease,

should be strongly discouraged from breast-feeding, and prohibited from

donating to breast milk banks.Ý

F. Garry, Ph.D

Professor

Department of Microbology and Immunology SL-38

Tulane University School of Medicine

New Orleans, LA 70112