Re: Blood Test Detects Silicone Immune Response

[Guest guest]

Immunosciences Labs has been doing a test for silicone antibodies for many

years.

Lynda

At 10:33 PM 3/6/2005, you wrote:

><http://www.personalmd.com/news/a1997021803.shtml>http://www.personalmd.com/new\

s/a1997021803.shtml

>

>Blood Test Detects Silicone Immune Response

>

>NEW YORK, Feb 18 (Reuters) -- Silicone from breast

>implants or other medical devices containing silicone

>may cause individuals to produce antibodies that can

>be detected by a newly developed laboratory test,

>according to a study published in The Lancet.

>

> " The test provides doctors with one of the first

>objective measures of the most severe manifestations

>of this disease, " said one of the study's authors, Dr.

> Garry, professor of microbiology at Tulane

>University School of Medicine in New Orleans.

>

>Garry and his colleagues found that women with more

>severe combinations of muscle pain, joint pain,

>neurological dysfunction, and local complications

>after receiving silicone gel-containing breast

>implants (SBI) were " significantly more likely " to

>test positive for antibodies to synthetic substances

>-- such as silicone -- than women who had mild

>symptoms.

>

> " Definitely, the presence of these antibodies is liked

>to the presence of silicone gel-containing breast

>implants in the body, " said Garry. " The most logical

>explanation is that the silicone is inducing these

>antibodies, though it's also possible that it's

>because of other natural polymers in the body. "

>

>The researchers studied a total of 153 women at a

>rheumatology clinic in Arizona, 110 of whom had

>received SBI and were presenting with varying degrees

>of complications. Of the remaining 43 women who did

>not have silicone implants, 20 showed classic symptoms

>of autoimmune disease, and 23 were recruited as

>healthy controls among employees of the clinic.

>

>After a history was taken and a physical examination

>was done, the SBI recipients were classified into five

>symptom groups: limited; mild; moderate; advanced; and

>those with specific autoimmune diseases.

>

>Positive antibody results were found in 1 (3%) of

>those with limited symptoms, 2 (8%) of 26 with mild

>symptoms, 7 (44%) of 16 with moderate symptoms, and 13

>(68%) of 19 with advanced symptoms.

>

>Some of the women who did not have silicone implants

>also tested positive. Two (10%) of the women with

>autoimmune diseases and 4 (17%) of the healthy control

>group were found positive to the antibody test. The

>study authors suggest that the " higher than expected "

>numbers may be a result of the small size of the

>sample, or other uncontrolled demographic factors.

>

> " We believe the (antibody test) can objectively

>contribute to distinguishing between SBI recipients

>with limited or mild signs and symptoms, SBI

>recipients with more severe manifestations, and

>patients with specific autoimmune diseases, " the

>authors wrote.

>

>Although the authors recommend that " further studies

>are needed to define the signs and symptoms associated

>with exposure to SBI, " Garry believes the test may

>prove useful for women with severe symptoms who are

>considering having their implants removed. " A test

>like this can help a doctor advise a patient one way

>or the other on making this critical decision, " said

>Garry.

>

>Ultimately, Garry hopes the test will help researchers

>better understand the disease process, and help

>develop safer biomedical devices that would not induce

>a similar immune response.

>

> " There are a number of devices, including implants,

>pacemakers, shunts, even artificial organs, that will

>continue to play an important role in medical care, "

>said Garry. " We'd like to be able to use these safely,

>without making people sick in the process. "

>

>SOURCE: The Lancet (1997;349:449-453)

>

>

>

>

>Opinions expressed are NOT meant to take the place of advice given by

>licensed health care professionals. Consult your physician or licensed

>health care professional before commencing any medical treatment.

>

> " Do not let either the medical authorities or the politicians mislead you.

>Find out what the facts are, and make your own decisions about how to live

>a happy life and how to work for a better world. " - Linus ing,

>two-time Nobel Prize Winner (1954, Chemistry; 1963, Peace)

>

>