Silicone Breast Implants (SBIs) and Autoimmune Dysautonomya

In the current chapter, we review the dangerous effects of silicone breast implants (SBIs) on human body in general, and on the immune system in particular. Furthermore, we explain why we believe that SBIs are historical medical error, and why they are considered as a classic example of autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA). Silicone is a foreign material to our body and cannot be found in nature. Silicone breast implants have been in use, for breast augmentation and reconstruction purposes, since 1960. If the silicone implants are located in the body for many years, the silicone material can act as an adjuvant and cause chronic hyperstimulation of the immune system genetically predisposed subjects (e.g. polymorphism in human leukocyte antigen [HLA]). Indeed, using a large-population-based study, we found a significant increased risk for women with silicone breast implants to develop autoimmune diseases. Symptomatic women with silicone breast implant suffer from various enigmatic, subjective, and autonomic-related manifestations such as severe fatigue, widespread pain, depression, cognitive impairment, sleep disorders, palpitations, hearing loss, and dry mouth and eyes. Notably, our group and others found that removal of SBIs can significantly improve the abovementioned symptoms. We recently reported a significant change in the circulating titter of anti-G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) IgG autoantibodies directed against autonomic nervous system autoantigens such as anti-β1-adrenergic receptor, anti-angiotensin II type 1 receptor, and anti-endothelin receptor type A in symptomatic women with SBIs as compared with age-matched healthy women. Importantly, we were the first to show the potential pathogenic activity of these IgG autoantibodies (both in vitro and in vivo) in symptomatic women with SBIs, emphasizing the importance of these antibodies in SBIs-related illness. Overall, we suggest that silicone breast implants illness is a classic example of ASIA syndrome.