Semin Arthritis Rheum 1987 Nov;17(2):112-8

(ISSN: 0049-0172)

Endo LP; Edwards NL; Longley S; Corman LC; Panush RS

Department of Medicine, College of Medicine,

University of Florida, Gainesville 32610.

Silicone generally has been regarded as a biologically inert material. However, recent reports suggest that inflammatory responses to silicone occur. There is some experimental and clinical evidence of a direct inflammatory response to the presence of liquid or particulate silicone. These include granulomatous skin reaction to injected silicone, synovitis around silicone prosthetic joints, and lymphadenopathy roximal to silicone prostheses. There are case reports of systemic rheumatic disease following silicone prostheses, but no definitive proof of a direct relationship between silicone prostheses and systemic disease. The clinical features of the reported cases following breast augmentation include breast tenderness, axillary adenopathy, sclerodermatous skin changes, arthritis, Raynaud's phenomenon, rheumatoid factors, and ANAs. Prior epidemiologic evidence and the number and consistency of our own and others' clinical findings suggestthat silicone may indeed be associated with inflammatory processes and rheumatic diseases.