Guest guest Posted May 9, 2005 Report Share Posted May 9, 2005 > > From: Kathynye@... > Date: Sun, 8 May 2005 07:35:29 EDT > Subject: POST:Silicone Implant Disease > Kathynye@... > > Subj: Silicone Implant Disease > Date: 5/7/2005 11:51:43 PM Eastern Standard Time > From: toxicdiscovery@... > > > Silicone Implant Disease > by Ron Kennedy, M.D., Santa , California > > Silicone breast implants were introduced in 1962 and > have been surgically > implanted in an estimated 2.5 million American women > since then and many > moreworld-wide. Some women get them as part of > breast reconstruction therapy following > mastectomy for breast cancer, but the majority get > them because they want > larger breasts. > > Now, 38 years later, it is clear that silicon > enhancement of breasts can be > hazardous to the health of the recipient. The real > cost of cosmetic breast > enhancement may not be the $10,000 in surgical fees > to implant them, but a host of > autoimmune symptoms and strange illnesses that can > crop up, typically within > about seven years of implantation. > > Silicone is a biologically active and toxic > substance. > > The original statement by the Dow Chemical Company > in the 1940s (repeated > hundreds of times since) that silicone is > biologically inert and nontoxic, was > based on a single one-week study of rats and guineas > pigs. (In 1943, Dow > Chemical Company and Corning Glassworks formed Dow > Corning Corporation to market > silicone and silicone implants.) > > The basic gel implant filler — DC 360 silicone > fluid — was once considered > worth following up for development by Dow Corning > scientists as a potent > insecticide, one of the few known substances capable > of killing cockroaches. > > Dow Corning researchers also studied silicone as a > possible better chemical > warfare and riot control agent, according to a 1969 > internal memorandum > obtained by the PSC (Public Safety Commission). > > Silicone gel is not a single substance but a fluid > comprised of numerous > different versions of silicone, and is better termed > a " silicone chemical soup. " > > Research collected by the PSC shows that silicone > has marked effects on the > adrenal glands and liver, induces chronic > inflammation, and degrades into > smaller molecules, including silica. Silicone fed to > rabbits produced widespread > toxic effects including kidney and spleen damage > within four months. (Stanford > Medical Bulletin, 10:1 [1952], 23-26) That silicone > is toxic in both animals > and man is well proven, states S. Sergent, > M.D., and colleagues in The > Textbook of Rheumatology (W.B. Saunders Company, > 1993). > > Silicone degrades into silica, usually at the > surface of the gel implant, > then fragments and subdivides into millions of > microdroplets capable of migrating > throughout the body (PSC Records No. 1352, 7017). > These are documents > produced by Dow Corning in national litigation). > Silica in the body is a toxic, > carcinogenic substance, damaging the immune system, > killing cells, and producing > silicosis. > > Silicone and its contaminants which bleed through > its surrounding implant > envelope into neighboring tissue have the potential > for significant toxicity in > the implant recipient.(Seminars in Arthritis and > Rheumatology 24:1 Suppl > 1[August 1994], 11-17) > > According to research gathered by attorney > , of the > Law Firm in San , California, Dow > Chemical and Dow Corning have been > aware of the toxic effects of silicone and silica > since the 1950s, based on their > own studies, but never published the data. They knew > these substances were > bio-active, immunotoxic, and inflammatory when > introduced into the human body, > according to . (Update on Breast Implants, > January 1998, website: > http://www.consumerlawpage.com/article/dow.shtml) > > Researchers at the University of California at Los > Angeles School of Medicine > concluded in 1995: From a pathophysiological > perspective, silicone should be > expected to be a bio-active materials and the > physico-chemical and > immunological data at the experimental level are > compelling. (Journal of Biomaterials > Science, Polymer Edition7:2 [1995], 101-13) > > Implants will likely rupture and leak within > ten years of > placement. > > In 1995, then FDA Commissioner A. Kessler, > M.D., stated that the > rupture rate of silicone implants ranges between 5% > and 51% and that unfortunately > we do not know with any confidence where within that > range the real rupture > rate lies. " Even if it is 5% that is a risk too > great to justify the use of > silocone in human beings. > > When 51 implants were removed, one to 17 years after > implantation, 2 were > found to have ruptured, 7 were leaking, and only 17 > were in good condition; all > implants older than ten years were leaking or > ruptured. (Plastic Reconstructive > Surgery 91:5 [April 1993], 828-834) > > Based on an examination of 350 silicone implants, > doctors found that 63% of > those implants in place for 12 years or more were > not intact. (Plastic and > Reconstructive Surgery 99:6 [1997], 1597-1601) > > According to Lu-Feng, M.D., of Mt. Sinai > Medical Center in Cleveland, > Ohio, in evidence presented to the PSC, 11% of > implants which have been in the > body less than seven years rupture, but of those in > the body more than seven > years, 61% rupture. > > Deformities such as holes or cracks were found in > 40% of 1,717 breast > implants after six years of use and in 95% after 12 > years of use. (Canadian Journal > of Plastic Surgeons, Spring 1997) > > When breast implants from 300 patients were > examined, 71% had either rupture > or silicone bleed, or both, and 63% of 592 implants, > when removed, were found > to have ruptures. This led researchers to conclude: > We have found and predict > that most implants have lost or will lose the > integrity of the silicone shell > between eight and 14 years, leaving free silicone > [in and out of the capsule] > in the breast. (ls of Plastic Surgery 34:1 > [January 1995], 1-6) > > Based on an examination of 217 silicone implants > removed during a four-year > period, physicians concluded that, either from > leakage or rupture, 40% failed > within six years of implantation, and 95% within 12 > years. (Canadian Journal of > Plastic Surgery 4:1 [1996], 55-58) > > Using magnetic resonance spectroscopy, researchers > found that among 39 women > with implants, 20 (51%) had ruptured implants and 27 > (69%) had evidence of > silicone in their livers. (Radiology 201:3 [December > 1996], 777-783) > > Complications of implants requiring further surgery > are likely within five > years, based on a study of 749 women with silicone > implants. During a median > span of 7.8 years after implantation, 27% of the > women underwent 450 > implant-related surgeries; 79% of these surgeries > were needed to address a complication, > most frequently among which were capsular > contraction (tightening of scar > tissue around the implant) and rupture. (New England > Journal of Medicine 336:10 > [March 6, 1997], 677-682) > > French researchers found that the well-described > leakage occurring through > the silicone envelope allows the silicone gel to > diffuse to multiple anatomic a > reas in the body, producing a cellular response that > includes the formation of > a capsule around the implant. (Revue de Medecine > Interne 18:12 [1997], > 955-966) > > Silicone migrates from the rupture site > throughout the body. > > As early as 1956, Dow Chemical researchers knew that > liquid silicone, when > injected into the body, migrates to all the major > organs, including the spleen, > heart, lung, and brain. (PSC Record No. 0006) > Studies by both Dow Corning and > Dow Chemical in 1970 confirmed that silicone, after > injection, migrates to the > bone marrow of animals and changes brain weight. > They also showed that > silicone particles migrate from a human finger joint > into the lymph nodes. (PSC > Record No. 0018, 7038) > > Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine in Texas > found that silicone is > widely distributed throughout the body of mice after > a single injection, > migrating to ten different organs from the brain to > the uterus and persisting in these > organs over time. (American Journal of Pathology > 152:3 [March 1998], 645-649) > > Researchers at the Medical College of Wisconsin in > Milwaukee found that > following silicone implant rupture, silicone gel > migrated into the arm of a woman, > where it produced nerve pain, dysfunction, and > fibrosis. (Plastic > Reconstructive Surgery 89:5 [May 1992], 949-952) > > Physicians at Massachusetts General Hospital in > town, using magnetic > resonance imaging, found that a significant amount > of free silicone had > migrated from an implant (not noticeably ruptured) > into the liver and spleen of a > woman. (Magnetic Resonance Medicine 36:3 [september > 1996], 498-501. Researchers > also found that silicone in the liver could be > detected in the first three to > four years after a woman received her implant. > (Magnetic Resonance Medicine > 33:1 [January 1995], 8-17) > > Of 39 women with silicone implants, 27 (69%) showed > signs of silicone in > their livers, and of the 20 whose implants had > ruptured, silicone was detected in > the livers of 17 (85%). In other words, whether the > implants rupture or not, > silicone leaks and migrates to the liver. (Radiology > 201 [1996], 777-783; PSC > Record No. 0050) > > In 1989, studies by Dow Corning showed that > silicone, given orally to rats, > increased liver size and weight by up to 45% and > suggested the enlargement > might be interpreted as a carcinogenic response. > (PSC Record No. 0482) > > Silicone produces abnormalities in immune system > functioning. > > Silicone elicits antibody responses and > immunological abnormalities, > according to a study of 40 women who had received > implants more than ten years > earlier. Among these women, 60% had an elevated > ratio of helper T cells to suppressor > T cells; 20% had a blockage in particular functions > of T cells and natural > killer cells. (Toxicology Industrial Health 8:6 > [November/December 1992], > 415-429) > > Scientists at the University of California at > reported that evidence > suggests that the degradation products of silicone > inactivate CD8+ suppressor T > cells (key immune cells) and thereby lead to an > inflammatory state in the > body. (Food and Chemical Toxicology 32:11 [November > 1994], 1089-1100) > > The activity of natural killer cells is > significantly suppressed in at least > 50% of women with silicone implants observed in a > study; this puts the women > at a higher risk of developing cancer. The same > effect was demonstrated in > animals; it was reversed upon removal of the > silicone. (Toxicology and Industrial > Health 10:3 [May/June 1994], 149-154) > > High levels of anti-nuclear antibodies (ANAs), > immune markers associated with > lupus erythematosus, were observed in ten of 11 > women with implants reporting > autoimmune symptoms. (Lancet 340:8831 [November 28, > 1992], 1304-1307) > > > When 500 women with silicone implants were examined, > 30% tested positive for > ANA levels; those women also had rheumatic symptoms. > The results strongly > suggested immune activation in women with silicone > implants.(Current Topics in > Microbiological Immunology 210 [1996], 277-282) > > Based on a study of 3,380 breast implant recipients, > scientists state there > is a sixfold increased likelihood that testing these > women will show elevated > ANAs; the longer the implant has been in place, the > greater the likelihood. > (Current Topics in Microbiological Immunology 210 > [1996], 337-353) > > In a study of 111 women (with and without > implants), those with implants had > a statistically significant elevation of > anti-silicone antibodies (immune > cells focused against silicone as a foreign > substance in the body); the highest > levels were observed in women with noticeable > implant rupture or leakage. > (FASEB 7:13 [October 1993], 1265-1268) > > Researchers at the University of Wisconsin at > Madison School of Medicine > reported that autoantibodies of unclear significance > may be found in 5% to 30% of > women with silicone breast implants.(Archives of > Internal Medicine 153:23 > [December 1993], 2638-2644) > > Researchers at Monash University in Clayton, > , in Australia, found > that women with silicone implants (70 were studied) > have elevated levels of > autoantibodies to collagen, in a manner highly > similar to women with lupus and > rheumatoid arthritis. (Current Topics in > Microbiological Immunology 210 [1996], > 307-316) > > Among 310 symptomatic women with silicone implants, > there were elevated > levels of novel auto-reactive antibodies to silicone > associated antigens(a specific > type of heightened immune response) compared to > healthy women without > implants. (Current Topics in Microbiological > Immunology 210 [1996], 327-336) > > Scientists at the Technical University of Munich in > Germany examined 239 > breast implant recipients and found the following > immunological abnormalities: > levels of complement C3 were elevated in 42% of the > women; complement C4 was > elevated in 21%; and anti-thyroglobulin (an antibody > that attacks a substance in > the thyroid gland) was higher in 28%. (ls of > Plastic Surgery 36:5 [May > 1996], 512-518) > > When silicone leaks from implants, immune cells form > granulomas (microscopic > lumps) around the droplets; the granulomas are > capable of severely disrupting > the immune system. Silicone plays the role of an > adjuvant, providing constant > nonspecific stimulation of the immune > system.(Journal of Investigative Surgery > 9:1 [January/February 1996], 1-12) > > Silicone produces a classifiable new disease > marked by autoimmune > symptoms. > > Among physicians willing to credit silicone with > toxicological and > immunological effects, a variety of names for > silicone-induced disease have been > proposed: siliconosis, undifferentiated or atypical > connective tissue disease, > silicone related disease, silicone reactive > disorder, silicone disease syndrome, and > silicone implant disease (SID). > > Typical symptoms associated with silicone include > cognitive dysfunction, > short-term memory loss, Sjögren's syndrome (dryness > in glands, such as the mouth, > kidneys, eyes, and lungs), scleroderma, rheumatoid > arthritis, dermatomyositis, > severe joint and muscle pain, incapacitating > fatigue, swollen lymph glands, > skin problems, peripheral numbness, multiple > allergies, headaches, hair loss, > sunlight sensitivity, central nervous system > disorders (similar to multiple > sclerosis), and others. > > Among 176 breast implant patients examined by > doctors at the Hospital for > Joint Diseases, Orthopaedic Institute, in New York > City, the most frequently > reported symptoms were chronic fatigue (77%), > cognitive dysfunction (65%), severe > joint pain (56%), dry mouth (53%), dry eye (50%), > hair loss (40%), and > difficulty in swallowing (35%). (Seminars in > Arthritis and Rheumatology 24:1 Suppl 1 > [August 1994], 29-37) > > A study of 50 women with implants revealed that 89% > complained of fatigue, > 75% of generalized stiffness, 71% of poor sleep, and > 78% of joint pain. Positive > ANAs were found in 38% of these patients. (Seminars > in Arthritis and > Rheumatology 24:1 Suppl 1 [August 1994], 44-53) > > A study of 56 women with silicone implants and > scleroderma (skin thickening > which damages tissues) revealed that scleroderma > symptoms developed an average > of nine years after implantation. Of these, 77% also > had Raynaud's phenomenon > (extreme skin pallor and coldness in hands and > feet), 53% had swallowing > difficulties, 47% had lung problems, and 83% had > antinuclear antibodies. (Current > Topics in Microbiological Immunology 210 [1996], > 283-90) > > Doctors at the Comprehensive Care Clinic in Houston, > Texas, found that 26 > women developed a systemic disease with central > nervous system involvement > (resembling multiple sclerosis) an average of 5.7 > years after receiving silicone > implants. (Southern Medical Journal 89:2 [February > 1996], 179-88) > > Doctors at the Louisiana State University Medical > Center at New Orleans > examined 300 women (average age, 44) with silicone > implants and musculoskeletal > complaints. The symptoms developed an average of 6.8 > years after receiving the > implants; 83% had symptoms highly suggestive of an > underlying connective tissue > disorder; and 54% met the criteria for a > fibromyalgia (chronic muscle pain) > diagnosis. (Clinical Rheumatology 14:6 [November > 1995], 667-672) > > According to R. Shanklin, M.D., and L. > Smalley, M.D., both > professors of pathology at the University of > Tennessee at Memphis, there is little > if any difference between the effects of direct > injection [of silicone] and > the effects of gel-filled devices [implants]. " > > In either case, the human body reacts to the > presence of this alien > substance " by forming granulomas which then produce > a chronic inflammation. Direct > injection of silicone into the breast for > enlargement was outlawed because it > produced serious, toxic effects in women; it is > illogical, state Drs. Shanklin and > Smalley, that this practice is still permitted via > ruptured leaking implants. > (Science and Medicine 3:5 [september/October 1996], > 22-31) > > Silicone-associated symptoms go away when > implants are removed. > > Doctors at the University of Alabama at Birmingham > observed that 103 of 142 > women attributed a variety of symptoms to their > implants and that 50% of these > women reported improvement in their health problems > when the implants were > removed. (ls of Plastic Surgery 34:1 [January > 1995], 1-6) > > Of 33 women who underwent implant removal (average > age 44), 24 experienced > significant improvement in numerous > silicone-associated symptoms within 22 > months. (Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatology 24:1 > Suppl 1 [August 1994], 22-28) > > Among 300 women with implants and musculoskeletal > complaints, 70% who > underwent implant removal reported improvement in > their systemic symptomatology. > (Clinical Rheumatology 14:6 [November 1995], > 667-672) > > Dermatologists at the Medical University of South > Carolina at ton > report that when a woman, 46, with scleroderma had > her implants removed, the > scleroderma gradually resolved.(Archives of > Dermatology 126:9 [september 1990], > 1198-1202) > > Doctors at the University of California, > School of Medicine report that > for a woman with debilitating multisystem > sarcoidosis (multi-organ > granulomas), her clinical condition dramatically > improved, after her silicone implants > were removed. (International Archives of Allergy and > Immunology 105:4 [December > 1994], 404-407) > > Canadian researchers polled 100 women for health > changes they experienced > after having their silicone implants removed (mean > age 41) after having had the > implants for a mean of 12 years. After an average of > 2.7 years, 45% of 75 women > in this group (those who had lost nipple > sensitivity) believed, in > retrospect, their implants had caused permanent > health problems and 43% were suing the > implant manufacturers. > > Those women who had no previous signs of autoimmune > symptoms responded most > favorably to explanations 80% reported major > improvement in their symptoms and > 93% said they had a significantly improved > psychological well-being.(ls of > Plastic Surgery 39:1 [1997], 9-19) > > Surely there is enough evidence to support the case > that silicone breast > implants pose a serious potential health threat, if > not for every woman, at least > for many. Isn't it therefore prudent to side with > caution–having the implants > removed and residual silicone detoxified from the > body–if the health > ramifications of a procedure are that uncertain? > > Legal Action > > Not everyone sees it this way of course. The subject > of silicone breast > implants is clouded and controversial, marked by > denial, cover-up, stonewalling, > suppressed research, bankruptcy, and class action > lawsuits. There is also much > suffering involved. > > The manufacturers and most plastic surgeons > strenuously insist silicone > breast implants pose no health danger; most women > apparently believe this because > 87,704 more American women received implants in > 1996. Between 1992 and 1997, > the number of breast augmentation surgeries > increased by 275%, according to the > American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive > Surgeons. > > The majority were saline implants in a silicone > casing; the only women still > getting silicone implants are those who opt for > breast reconstruction > following mastectomy and agree to be part of the > FDA's clinical trials on silicone > implants. However, many other countries have not > banned silicone implants and > millions of women are still regularly exposed to the > full force of not only the > silicone bag which is used with saline implants but > also the silocone gel > chemical soup inside. In fact, I was inspired to > post this article after a woman > fromParaguay came to my office with severe fatigue > four years after receiving > silicone implants. On Live Blood Cell Analysis > several bundles of foreign > crystallized substance could be seen in each high > powered field, occupying at least > 5% of her blood volume! She returned to Paraguay to > have her implants removed. > > Thousands of women who have had their implants for > one or two decades now are > seeking medical help for mysterious symptoms which > resemble arthritis, > fibromyalgia, scleroderma, connective tissue > disorders, and/or immune dysfunction > and seem to be associated with their implants. > Anyone skilled with a dark field > microscope can show you large numbers of mysterious > chunks of foreign > particles floating around in the blood of many women > complaining of these symptoms. > > In 1992, the FDA declared a moratorium on sales of > silicone breast implants, > citing the lack of clinical studies proving their > safety. However, the FDA did > not say silicone implants were unsafe, hedging as > usual on the side of > manufacturers and against the public, calling lamely > for more studies. > > > Toxic Discovery > 601 W. Nifong > Bldg. 3B. Suite P. > Columbia, MO. 65203 > > Phone: (573) 817-2090 > Fax: (573) 445-4700 > Email: kkjohnston@... > Website: www.toxicdiscovery.com > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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