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Autoantibodies in patients with silicone implants
1Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism
|August 1, 1994
Summary
Autoantibodies are common in immune disorders. Silicone implants may be linked to specific autoantibodies in rheumatic diseases, differing from idiopathic cases, warranting further study.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Immunology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Immune disorders often involve autoantibodies, including antinuclear antibodies (ANAs), prevalent in connective tissue diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and scleroderma.
- Reports suggest a link between silicone implants and the development of scleroderma and SLE.
- Understanding autoantibody profiles in silicone-associated rheumatic disease is crucial for elucidating disease pathogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the nature of autoantibodies in patients with silicone implants and rheumatic conditions.
- To compare autoantibody profiles in silicone-associated rheumatic disease with those in idiopathic connective tissue diseases.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of English publications and abstracts from the 1992 American College of Rheumatology meeting.
- Analysis of immunofluorescent testing (IFT) for antinuclear antibody (ANA) positivity in patients with silicone implants.
- Application of Western blot technique for sensitive autoantibody detection in patients with negative IFT results.
Main Results:
- ANA positivity via IFT ranged from 7% to 68% in patients with silicone implants.
- Patients with silicone implants and connective tissue disease showed lower ANA positivity rates than those with idiopathic disease.
- Western blot detected autoantibodies in 10% of patients with silicone implants and negative IFT.
- Specific autoantibodies (anticentromere, anti-PM-Scl, anti-B'/B polypeptide) were associated with different silicone-associated rheumatic conditions.
- Over 50% of individuals with silicone implants had antibodies to a high molecular weight protein detected by Western blot.
Conclusions:
- Autoantibody profiles in silicone-associated rheumatic disease may differ from idiopathic connective tissue diseases.
- Specific autoantibodies are associated with scleroderma-like illness or SLE in patients with silicone implants.
- Further research is needed to fully characterize these autoantibodies and their role in silicone-associated rheumatic disease.