Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

The symptoms of what has been called silicone implant associated syndrome (SIAS) and fibromyalgia (FM) are similar. It has been hypothesized that silicone (filled) breast implants (SBI) might be causally related to the development of FM. This hypothesis was investigated by comparing 508 patients with FM with 1228 control subjects. We also studied the relationship of SBI to the subsequent development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODS:

Utilizing a longitudinal databank, implantation status was determined in 464 patients with RA, 508 with FM, 261 with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee or hip, and in 503 randomly selected community controls. We obtained data on the type of implant and its temporal relationship to the onset of FM and RA.

RESULTS:

No association between SBI and RA was found (OR 1.66, 95% CI 0.33, 8.23, p = 0.538). No association between prior SBI and subsequent FM was found (OR 1.22, 95% CI 0.30, 4.89, p = 0.781). But one-third of the SBI in FM occurred after development of the syndrome. When all implants regardless of temporal relationship were considered, the overall relationship between any implant and the diagnosis of FM was significant at p = 0.095 (OR 2.45, 95% CI 0.86, 7.03).

CONCLUSION:

No relationship between prior SBI and the subsequent development of FM or RA was noted. But implants appear to be more common in patients with than in those without FM (p = 0.095). A common, predisposing set of psychosocial characteristics may be shared between those who have FM and those who undergo SBI.