HLA typing in women with breast implants

Area of Science:

• Immunogenetics
• Rheumatology
• Biomaterials Science

Background:

• Anecdotal reports link silicone gel breast implants to rheumatologic and autoimmune symptoms.
• The association between implant-related symptoms and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules requires investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between HLA molecules and symptoms in women with silicone gel breast implants.
• To identify potential genetic markers predisposing women to implant-related symptoms.

Main Methods:

• Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing was performed on 199 subjects.
• Groups included symptomatic patients with implants, asymptomatic patients with implants, healthy controls, and fibromyalgia patients.
• Autoantibody formation and implant complication frequencies were assessed.

Main Results:

• Symptomatic patients with implants showed a significantly higher frequency of HLA-DR53 (68%) compared to asymptomatic patients (35%).
• Fibromyalgia patients also exhibited a high frequency of HLA-DR53 (65%), similar to symptomatic implant patients.
• Symptomatic patients had increased HLA-DQ2, and a subset formed B-cell autoantibodies, predominantly in DR53-positive individuals.

Conclusions:

• Symptomatic silicone gel breast implant patients share genetic characteristics, notably HLA-DR53 positivity, distinguishing them from asymptomatic counterparts.
• HLA-DR53 may indicate a genetic predisposition to developing symptoms and complications after silicone gel breast implant exposure.
• The findings suggest a potential immunogenetic link between HLA genotype and silicone implant-associated symptoms.