Donating Blood & Organs & Breast Milk - breast implants

[Guest guest]

Thanks Lea -

" 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 scleroderma, an

autoimmune disease. "

Subject: Donating Blood & Organs & Breast Milk

In my latest Kaiser News, they are advertising info

about Organ & Tissue Donors. If you'd like to call

either of these 800#s and find out what their " SQ "

(Silicone Quotient) is, please let us know.

California Transplant Donor Network 800/553-6667

United Network for Organ Sharing 800/243-6667

Dr Garry wrote this up for us before the iom

conference in july. many thanx again to him. ~~~

Donation of blood and organs by women with silicone

breast implants 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 no 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.

Last year, U.S. Rep. A. Traficant, Jr. (D-OH)

introduced legislation that would prohibit the

donation of blood and organs by individuals with

silicone breast implants. This bill was a 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. Breast-feeding

and donation of breast milk.

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 scleroderma, 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 presence 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.

***********************************

F. Garry, Ph.D. Professor

Department of Microbiology and Immunology SL-38

Tulane University School of Medicine

New Orleans, LA 70112 **