T-Cell Reactivity To Silicone Implants- Saline Breast Implants,

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T-Cell Reactivity To Silicone Implants- Saline Breast Implants, Eye

Implants, Heart Pacemaker, Tubal Clamps

SILICONE-SPECIFIC T-CELL REACTIVITY IN SALINE BREAST IMPLANTS AND

NON-BREAST IMPLANT PATIENTS

Authors: Lawless, O. J., Ojo-Amaize, E. A., and , J. B.

Address: Center for Arthritis Immunology and Environmental

Disorders, Silver Spring, MD 20909, and Specialty Laboratories,

Inc., Santa , CA90404-3900.

Silicone-specific T-cell proliferative response to silicone antigens

sodium silicate, silicone dioxide and silicone gel were detected in

women with breast implants (Clin. Diagn. Lab. Immunol. 1:689-695,

1994) and linked clinically to atypical connective tissue,

neurological and skin disorders

and to severity of disability from these symptoms. Questions and

controversies pertain to whether silicone-specific T-cell reactivity

is unique to women with silicone breast implants. In this study, we

used silicone breast implants; three with saline breast implants;

two with silicone tubal clamps; one with silicone retinal banding;

and one with heart pacemaker. All had symptoms of atypical

connective tissue, skin or

neurological disease. The results are reported as stimulation index

(SI) for each antigen used and as the average SI for all three

antigens. A SI of > (3 standard deviations above controls) is

defined as positive in this assay.

Silicone-reactive T-cells were not restricted to silicone breast

implant patients but were seen in patients with saline breast

implants (3/3), silicone tubal clamps (1/2), silicone retinal band

(1/1), and a cardiacpacemaker (1/1). The average SI for silicone

implants is higher (7.5) than that for saline implants (3.9),

however this could reflect duration

rather than type of implant. The retinal band patient had an average

SI of 6.8. These results provide the first evidence that silicone-

reactive T-cells are associated with atypical connective tissue,

skin and neurological symptoms and suggest that leakage or rupture

of silicone implants is not essential for T-cell activation by

silicone antigens and that saline implants with silicone envelope

can likewise cause silicone-specific T-cell activation.

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With love from Ilena

www.BreastImplantAwareness.org