Is hyaluronic acid filler still a potential risk factor for an autoimmune reaction?

Rejuvenation of the skin with hyaluronic acid (HA) filler is considered to be one of the most favourable procedures in the field of aesthetics. Nevertheless, some adverse effects still occur though infrequently, and are associated with its use. Previous research has suggested that HA filler may stimulate antibodies. Consequently, an investigation of the immune interactions associated with use of HA filler is an important area for investigation.

The aim of this research is to investigate whether HA filler influences the initiation of an autoimmune reaction in healthy women who had received HA filler by screening for autoantibodies in the blood. Results will be compared with agematched apparently healthy control women who did not receive the filler.

Serum samples were obtained from 44 females who had received HA filler and 44 females who had not as a control group. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique was utilised to measure serum concentrations of anti- Thyroglobulin (Tg), anti -thyroid peroxidase (TPO), rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) and anticentromeres.

The number of women who tested positive for the measured autoantibodies was not statistically significant (p=0.803) between those who had received HA filler (n=10/44, 25%) and the control group (n=11/44, 22.7%).

Based on our result HA filler procedures do not induce an autoimmune reaction in women who received HA filler compared to controls. And consequently, HA filler procedures are relatively safe, and these results contradict the findings of other non-controlled works.