Potential risk factors for undifferentiated connective tissue disease among women: Implanted medical devices

A case-control study was conducted among 205 women in Michigan and Ohio who were diagnosed with undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD) to i nvestigate the significance of self-reported past exposures to implanted si licone-containing or non-silicone-containing medical devices. The 205 UCTD cases were compared with 2,095 controls who were sampled by random digit di aling. When silicone-containing devices, including shunts and catheters, we re analyzed collectively, a significant association was observed (odds rati o (OR) = 2.81, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.34, 5.89). The odds ratio fo r exposure to breast implants was increased, but not significantly (OR = 2. 22, 95% CI: 0.65, 7.57). Among the non-silicone-containing devices, artific ial joints (OR = 5.01, 95% CI: 1.60, 15.71) and orthopedic metallic fixatio n devices (OR = 1.95, 95% CI: 1.05, 3.60) were associated with UCTD. The es timations of risk associated with implanted medical devices in UCTD cases w ere explored in a comparison with 660 scleroderma patients who were ascerta ined concurrently in Michigan and Ohio. In general, the associations that w ere observed with non-silicone-containing devices, and more specifically wi th the fixation devices, persisted in the comparison of UCTD cases with scl eroderma patients. The studies conducted among populations in Michigan and Ohio are intended to stimulate new hypotheses, innovative approaches, and t he fostering of understanding of the environmental determinants of autoimmu ne disease.