Silicon and silicone levels in patients with silicone implants

[Guest guest]

Curr Top Microbiol Immunol. 1996;210:39-48. Related

Articles, Links

Silicon and silicone levels in patients with silicone

implants.

s W, D, Lugowski S, McHugh A, Mac P,

Baines C.

Division of Plastic Surgery, Wellesley Hospital,

Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Although a potential link between silicone gel breast

implants and autoimmune connective tissue disease has

been suggested, none has been proven. The potential

role of silicone as an immune adjuvant remains very

controversial. Currently available techniques do not

easily allow precise measurements of silicone in

tissues. However, all compounds containing silicon

(which would include silicone) can be measured

accurately. The present study was designed to measure

silicon levels in the fibrous capsules of patients

with silicone-gel breast implants, saline breast

implants and silicone inflatable penile prostheses.

Baseline control silicon levels were obtained from the

breast tissue of patients undergoing breast reduction,

who had no exposure to breast implants. All silicon

measurements were carried out using atomic absorption

spectrometry with a graphite furnace. The mean silicon

levels in 16 breast tissue control samples from 8

patients undergoing breast reduction varied from 0.046

to 0.742 micrograms/g dry weight, with the median mean

being 0.0927. The median silicon level in capsules

from 6 patients with saline implants was 7.7

micrograms/g (range 36.6). The median silicon level in

capsules from 5 patients with silicone inflatable

penile prostheses was 19.5 micrograms/g (range 34.8).

Although the levels of silicon in capsules of patients

with saline breast prostheses and penile implants were

higher than in control samples, they were much lower

than those from the capsules of the 58 gel implants

(median 9979 micrograms/g). Of the 58 silicone gel

breast implants (from 20 patients with bilateral

implant removal and 18 patients with unilateral

removal) which had been inserted from 1974 to 1990, 28

were intact, 8 had pinhole leaks, and 22 were

ruptured.

Median capsule silicon levels and ranges for all 58

implants, for intact only, for leaking, and for

ruptured were: 9979 (152,000), 10,477 (88,703), 6592

(65,396), and 9922 (152,387) micrograms/g

respectively. There were no significant differences in

silicon levels associated with implant status,

duration in situ, or year of implantation. Capsule

contracture was not associated with higher levels of

capsule silicon. Capsule silicon levels were about

10(6)times higher than previously assayed blood

silicon levels. This may be because silicone released

from implants remains localized in capsular tissue, or

because blood-borne silicone is quickly excreted.

Using 29Si nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, no

detectable silicone was found in the blood of 7

control women and 7 women with silicone-gel implants

(5 with known implant rupture).

PMID: 8565583 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_uids=8\

565583 & dopt=Citation

[Guest guest]

Dearest Rogene:

Thank you for all the great information. I'm sending all of the old mail

from our old computer to at his university computer. He will send them

to me on our new one. There is so much good information from many support

people, many who have passed on. It was heartbreaking to read mail from such

wonderful ladies, they are still helping us from above.

Do many women have severe chest wall damage? I'm finding it hard to sit for

long periods, I have had this problem for many years. My doctors have

mentioned a brace to hold me up!!The only reason that I am up now is that

they are turning on our air conditioner today and it takes close to an hour.

Then I will be back in bed with my heating pad.

Much love...Lea

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`````````````````````````

Silicon and silicone levels in patients with

silicone implants

>

> Curr Top Microbiol Immunol. 1996;210:39-48. Related

> Articles, Links

>

> Silicon and silicone levels in patients with silicone

> implants.

>

> s W, D, Lugowski S, McHugh A, Mac P,

> Baines C.

>

> Division of Plastic Surgery, Wellesley Hospital,

> Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

>

> Although a potential link between silicone gel breast

> implants and autoimmune connective tissue disease has

> been suggested, none has been proven. The potential

> role of silicone as an immune adjuvant remains very

> controversial. Currently available techniques do not

> easily allow precise measurements of silicone in

> tissues. However, all compounds containing silicon

> (which would include silicone) can be measured

> accurately. The present study was designed to measure

> silicon levels in the fibrous capsules of patients

> with silicone-gel breast implants, saline breast

> implants and silicone inflatable penile prostheses.

>

> Baseline control silicon levels were obtained from the

> breast tissue of patients undergoing breast reduction,

> who had no exposure to breast implants. All silicon

> measurements were carried out using atomic absorption

> spectrometry with a graphite furnace. The mean silicon

> levels in 16 breast tissue control samples from 8

> patients undergoing breast reduction varied from 0.046

> to 0.742 micrograms/g dry weight, with the median mean

> being 0.0927. The median silicon level in capsules

> from 6 patients with saline implants was 7.7

> micrograms/g (range 36.6). The median silicon level in

> capsules from 5 patients with silicone inflatable

> penile prostheses was 19.5 micrograms/g (range 34.8).

> Although the levels of silicon in capsules of patients

> with saline breast prostheses and penile implants were

> higher than in control samples, they were much lower

> than those from the capsules of the 58 gel implants

> (median 9979 micrograms/g). Of the 58 silicone gel

> breast implants (from 20 patients with bilateral

> implant removal and 18 patients with unilateral

> removal) which had been inserted from 1974 to 1990, 28

> were intact, 8 had pinhole leaks, and 22 were

> ruptured.

>

> Median capsule silicon levels and ranges for all 58

> implants, for intact only, for leaking, and for

> ruptured were: 9979 (152,000), 10,477 (88,703), 6592

> (65,396), and 9922 (152,387) micrograms/g

> respectively. There were no significant differences in

> silicon levels associated with implant status,

> duration in situ, or year of implantation. Capsule

> contracture was not associated with higher levels of

> capsule silicon. Capsule silicon levels were about

> 10(6)times higher than previously assayed blood

> silicon levels. This may be because silicone released

> from implants remains localized in capsular tissue, or

> because blood-borne silicone is quickly excreted.

> Using 29Si nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, no

> detectable silicone was found in the blood of 7

> control women and 7 women with silicone-gel implants

> (5 with known implant rupture).

>

>

> PMID: 8565583 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

>

>

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_uids=8\

565583 & dopt=Citation

>

>

>

>

>

>

> 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)

>

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Lea,

I feel so bad for you! You've had so many problems,

but you keep up the fight! Thank God!

Do you mean your chest muscles are damaged? I

undestand silicone can destroy tissues. . . You had

polyurethane didn't you? ... I know they were the

worst chemically.

Would physical therapy to strengthen your chest

muscles help? . . . They do make house calls.

Love,

Rogene