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The association between silicone implants and both antibodies and autoimmune diseases

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Abstract

Silicones are widely used materials in many fields of medicine and largely are believed to be biologically inert. However, some investigators have reported that silicone implants are associated with an increased incidence of autoimmune disorders. In this study, we evaluated the capsular tissue of silicone implants and the sera of implant patients and controls for antisilicone antibodies and nonspecific immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM, and IgE). Our study group included 15 patients (eight men and seven women) undergoing reconstructive procedures for burn scars, in whom we used silicone implants, and 15 sex-matched controls undergoing reconstructive surgery for burn scars without using silicone implants. By immunofluorescence, we discovered strong capsular binding of IgG and weak capsular binding of IgM; antisilicone antibody levels were significantly higher in capsular tissue than elsewhere. Serum IgE also was higher in patient vs control subject sera. In conclusion, silicone materials do lead to an immune response consisting of antisilicone antibodies most evident immediately adjacent to the implant itself.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Gaziantep University School of Medicine, Gaziantep, Turkey

    Mehmet Bekerecioglu, Daghan Isik & Omer Bulut

  2. Department of Rheumatology, Gaziantep University School of Medicine, Gaziantep, Turkey

    Ahmet Mesut Onat

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, Gaziantep University School of Medicine, Gaziantep, Turkey

    Hakan Buyukhatipoglu

  4. Department of Pathology, Gaziantep University School of Medicine, Gaziantep, Turkey

    Metin Karakok

  5. Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Haydarpasa Numune Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey

    Mustafa Tercan

Authors
  1. Mehmet Bekerecioglu
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  2. Ahmet Mesut Onat
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  3. Mustafa Tercan
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  4. Hakan Buyukhatipoglu
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  5. Metin Karakok
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  6. Daghan Isik
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  7. Omer Bulut
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hakan Buyukhatipoglu.

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Bekerecioglu, M., Onat, A.M., Tercan, M. et al. The association between silicone implants and both antibodies and autoimmune diseases. Clin Rheumatol 27, 147–150 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-007-0659-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-007-0659-1

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