Abstract
The metatolic fate of silicone gel leaked from an intact or ruptured prosthesis is unknown. In this study, serum was blindly assayed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) for elemental silicon in 72 women with silicone gel breast implants and 55 control women (mean age 48 yr, both groups). Blood was drawn and processed using silicon-free materials. The mean silicon level in controls was 0.13±0.07 mg/L (range 0.06–0.35 mg/L), whereas in implant patients, the mean was significantly higher at 0.28±0.22 mg/L (range 0.06–0.87 mg/L) (P<0.01, Student'st-test with correction for unequal variances). Using the mean of the control group +2 SD as a cutoff for normal range (0.27 mg/L), 25/72 (34.7%) implant patients exceeded this value, compared with 2/55 (3.6%) controls. There was no significant correlation between past rupture of one or both implants, current rupture at the time of the blood draw, or the number of years with implants and silicon levels. The results suggest that serum silicon levels are elevated in many women with silicone gel breast implants. The chemical species involved and kinetics of this elevation remain to be determined.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
B. Arkles and P. Redinger, inBiocompatible Polymers, Metals, and Composites, M. Szycher, ed., Technomic Publishing, Lancaster, PA, pp. 749–768 (1983).
A. J. Christie, K. A. Weinberger, and M. Dietrich,JAMA 237, 1463–1464 (1977).
R. M. Goldblum, R. P. Pelley, A. A. O'Donnell, D. Pyron, and J. P. Heggers,Lancet 340 510–513 (1992).
S. H. Yoshida, C. C. Chang, S. S. Teuber, and M. E. Gershwin,Reg. Toxicol. Pharmacol. 17, 3–18 (1993).
R. R. LeVier, M. C. Harrison, R. R. Cook, and T. H. Lane,Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 92, 163–167 (1993).
D. E. Barker, M. I. Retsky, and S. Schultz,Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 61, 836–841 (1978).
S. H. Yoshida, S. S. Teuber, J. B. German, and M. E. Gershwin,Fd Chem. Toxic. 32, 1089–1100 (1994).
J.L. Thomsen, L. Christensen, M. Nielsen, B. Brandt, V. B. Breiting, S. Felby and E. Nielsen,Plant. Reconstr. Surg. 85, 38–41 (1990).
R. M. Silver, E. E. Sahns, J. A. Allen, S. Sahn, W. Greene, J. C. Maize and P. D. Garen,Arch. Dermatol. 129, 63–68 (1993).
Y. Mauras, P. Riberi, F. Cartier, and P. Allain,Biomedicine 33, 228–230 (1980).
N. B. Roberts and P. Williams,Clin. Chem. 36, 1460–1465 (1990).
H. J. Gitelman, F. R. Alderman and S. J. Perry,Am. J. Kidney Dis. 19, 140–143 (1992).
H. J. Gitelman and F. R. Alderman,J. Anal. Atomic Spectrom. 5, 687–689 (1990).
J. W. Dobbie and M. J. B. Smith, inSilicon Biochem., Ciba Foundation Symposium 121, Wiley, New York, NY, pp 194–213 (1986).
R. Shainkin-Kestenbaum, A. J. Adler, and G. M. Berlyne,J. Trace Element Electrolytes Health Dis. 4, 97–99 (1990).
G. J. Picha and J. A. Goldstein,Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 87, 490–496 (1991).
L. Garrido, B. Pfleiderrer, B. C. Jenkins, C. A. Hulka, and D. B. Kopans,Mag. Resonance Med. 31, 328–330 (1994).
Garrido, L., Pfleiderer, B., Papisov, M., and Ackerman, J. L.,Ma. Reson. Med. 29, 839–843 (1993).
B. Pfleiderer, J. L. Ackerman, and L. Garrido,Man. Reson. Med. 30, 534–543 (1993).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Teuber, S.S., Saunders, R.L., Halpern, G.M. et al. Elevated serum silicon levels in women with silicone gel breast implants. Biol Trace Elem Res 48, 121–130 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02789186
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02789186