Anti-soya antibodies and trilucent breast implants

In light of the media attention surrounding the withdrawal of Trilucent breast implants in March of 1999, we undertook a study of 20 women with these implants to compare the level of serum antibodies to soya oil and protein with that of a control group. Two control groups were chosen: 20 women without breast implants and 20 women with silicone-containing breast implants. Serum antibodies to soya protein were detected with an enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay technique, because direct assay to soya oil is not possible owing to insolubility of the soya oil component. No antibody formation was detected in the patients with Trilucent breast implants or in either of the control groups, lending support to the view that these implants are unlikely to give rise to a systemic immune response.