Journal of Long-Term Effects of Medical Implants

ISSN for PRINT: 1050-6934

For Online Access

Best Paper Award Selection - Editorial Board Site

2004, Volume14

Issue 2

102 pages

DOI: 10.1615/JLongTermEffMedImplants.v14.i2

Issue price - $175.00

Bente Jensen MD, PhD
Parker Institute, Frederiksberg Hospital, Frederiksberg; and Institute of Cancer Epidemiology, Danish Cancer Society, Copenhagen, Denmark

Irene Hechmann Wittrup,MD
Parker Institute, Frederiksberg Hospital, Frederiksberg, Denmark;

Allan Wiik, DMSc
Department of Autoimmunology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark

Soren Friis, MD
Institute of Cancer Epidemiology, Danish Cancer Society, Copenhagen, Denmark

Henning Bliddal
Parker Institute, Frederiksberg Hospital, Frederiksberg, Denmark

Birthe Thomsen
Institute of Cancer Epidemiology, Danish Cancer Society, Copenhagen, Denmark

Joseph K. McLaughlin, MD, PhD
International Epidemiology Institute, Rockville, Maryland; and Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Vanderbilt—Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA

Bente Danneskiold-Samsoe
Parker Institute, Frederiksberg Hospital, Frederiksberg, Denmark

Jorgen H. Olsen, MD
Institute of Cancer Epidemiology, Danish Cancer Society, Copenhagen, Denmark; and Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA

Objective. To use a new immunologic assay to evaluate antipolymer antibody (APA) levels among women with silicone breast implants (SBIs). Methods. Women (n = 186) were identified through Danish population-based registers and categorized into six groups defined by prior breast surgery (silicone breast implantation/breast reduction/no breast surgery) and by the presence or absence of a prior hospital diagnosis of soft-tissue rheumatism (muscular rheumatism, ICD-8 codes 717.90 and 717.99). The women underwent blood tests, including an APA test, a clinical examination, and an interview focusing on rheumatic complaints. Blood samples were tested blindly. The severity of rheumatic symptoms/signs was scored from 1 (none) to 5 (severe) based on the clinical examination and interview. Results. Women with SBIs did not have higher levels of APA than women without SBIs. The majority of women with SBIs had mild rheumatic complaints, and the severity of their symptoms was not related to APA levels. Among women who had previously been hospitalized because of soft-tissue rheumatism, there were more fibromyalgia cases, and their symptoms were more severe compared with those women without prior soft-tissue rheumatism; however, APA levels were not higher among these women. There was a significant difference in APA measurements resulting from between-kit variation (p < 0.01). Conclusions. Our data did not demonstrate higher APA levels among women with SBIs compared with controls. The large variation observed between the individual plates in the APA test should be evaluated in future studies.

DOI: 10.1615/JLongTermEffMedImplants.v14.i2.10 Download article, 8 pages

Article price - $35.00

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