Ej. Giltay et al., SILICONE BREAST PROTHESES AND RHEUMATIC SYMPTOMS - A RETROSPECTIVE FOLLOW-UP-STUDY, Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 53(3), 1994, pp. 194-196
Objectives-To determine whether women with silicone breast protheses h
ave more rheumatic complaints than controls. Methods-The study include
d 287 women who had silicone implanted between patient a female contro
l of the same age was selected who had had an aesthetic operation in t
he same year. A questionnaire was sent to this retrospective cohort of
women with silicone breast protheses and controls. Results-Questionna
ires were returned by 235 cases (82%) and 210 controls (73%). Patients
reported more symptoms arising after surgery than controls (0.6 v 0.3
complaints per subject, p < 0.001). The average interval between surg
ery and onset of complaints was 5.1 years for patients and 5.9 for con
trols. Complaints presented by patients were: painful joints silicone
(p < 0.005), burning eyes (p < 0.01), and implants. skin abnormalities
(p < 0.005). Differences in the use of antirheumatic drugs or medical
consultations related to rheumatic symptoms did not reach statistical
significance. Further information obtained from the patients and cont
rols reporting rheumatic symptoms did not reveal the presence of a spe
cific syndrome in connection with silicone materials. Conclusion-Women
with silicone breast protheses report more rheumatic complaints after
silicone implantation than controls, but there is no evidence of incr
eased prevalence of common rheumatic diseases.