Immunology of silicone breast implants
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1Department of Pathology, University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine 90024-1732.
Understanding the immunology of silicone breast implants, at present, consists of reconciling an increasingly large body of data with an older, established, but otherwise unsubstantiated theory. Despite the variety of silicone breast implants, there are nevertheless certain phenomena that occur with all silicone gel-filled devices. Recent clinical findings suggest that in some patients, silicone will act as an adjuvant on native macromolecules and render them immunogenic. The purpose of this review is to highlight biophysical and clinical phenomena that warrant further investigation.
Understanding the immunology of silicone breast implants, at present, consists of reconciling an increasingly large body of data with an older, established, but otherwise unsubstantiated theory. Despite the variety of silicone breast implants, there are nevertheless certain phenomena that occur with all silicone gel-filled devices. Recent clinical findings suggest that in some patients, silicone will act as an adjuvant on native macromolecules and render them immunogenic. The purpose of this review is to highlight biophysical and clinical phenomena that warrant further investigation.