[Silicone deposits in macrophages of patients on chronic hemodialysis]

A retrospective study was carried out in search of silicone deposits in 11 periodic hemodialysis patients (1 liver biopsy, 4 splenectomies and 6 autopsies) treated between 12 and 60 months with equipment containing a silicone pump segment. Silicone particles were found in the macrophage cells of all patients, especially in the liver and spleen, but also in lymph nodes, bone marrow and even an artery wall. In some cases, macrophage response had formed sarcoid-like granulomas. Silicone deposits in 3 patients were associated with a hypersplenism syndrome totally or partially improved by splenectomy. No relationship could be established between foreign material in the liver and clinical or biological abnormalities. Three patients who had died subsequent to peritoneal dialysis or hemodialysis involving polyvinyl chloride materials served as controls. No silicone inclusions were found in their tissues at autopsy.