The Rheumatologist
COVID-19 NewsACR Convergence
  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed
  • Home
  • Conditions
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • SLE (Lupus)
    • Crystal Arthritis
      • Gout Resource Center
    • Spondyloarthritis
    • Osteoarthritis
    • Soft Tissue Pain
    • Scleroderma
    • Vasculitis
    • Systemic Inflammatory Syndromes
    • Guidelines
  • Resource Centers
    • Axial Spondyloarthritis Resource Center
    • Gout Resource Center
    • Psoriatic Arthritis Resource Center
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis Resource Center
    • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Resource Center
  • Drug Updates
    • Biologics & Biosimilars
    • DMARDs & Immunosuppressives
    • Topical Drugs
    • Analgesics
    • Safety
    • Pharma Co. News
  • Professional Topics
    • Ethics
    • Legal
    • Legislation & Advocacy
    • Career Development
      • Certification
      • Education & Training
    • Awards
    • Profiles
    • President’s Perspective
    • Rheuminations
    • Interprofessional Perspective
  • Practice Management
    • Billing/Coding
    • Quality Assurance/Improvement
    • Workforce
    • Facility
    • Patient Perspective
    • Electronic Health Records
    • Apps
    • Information Technology
    • From the College
    • Multimedia
      • Audio
      • Video
  • Resources
    • Issue Archives
    • ACR Convergence
      • Gout Resource Center
      • Axial Spondyloarthritis Resource Center
      • Psoriatic Arthritis
      • Abstracts
      • Meeting Reports
      • ACR Convergence Home
    • American College of Rheumatology
    • ACR ExamRheum
    • Research Reviews
    • ACR Journals
      • Arthritis & Rheumatology
      • Arthritis Care & Research
      • ACR Open Rheumatology
    • Rheumatology Image Library
    • Treatment Guidelines
    • Rheumatology Research Foundation
    • Events
  • About Us
    • Mission/Vision
    • Meet the Authors
    • Meet the Editors
    • Contribute to The Rheumatologist
    • Subscription
    • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Search
You are here: Home / Articles / Assessing Autoimmune Disease Symptoms in Silicone Breast Implant Recipients

Assessing Autoimmune Disease Symptoms in Silicone Breast Implant Recipients

December 15, 2016 • By Charles Radis, DO

  • Tweet
  • Email
Print-Friendly Version / Save PDF

My nurse, Joanne, took me aside before I began my next consult. “Room No. 5, breast implant patient. Her lawyer organized the records.” She handed me a hefty three-ring notebook organized by color-coded tabs. “Her attorney called just now,” Joanne raised an eyebrow, “and told me to tell you that, to save time, he highlighted in yellow marker the most critical aspects of the case for you to review. The breast implant settlement agreement is on the last page.”

You Might Also Like
  • Is B a Key to Autoimmune Therapy?: B Cell–targeted Therapies in Autoimmune Disease
  • Somatic Mosaicism Can Complicate Diagnosis of Autoimmune Disease
  • When Symptoms of Rheumatic Disorder Point to Endocrine Disease
Explore This Issue
December 2016

This would take some time. On my way to my office, I grabbed a fresh cup of coffee and caught a glimpse of my next patient through the half-open exam door. Middle-aged, razor-cut layered blond hair, ivory cheeks, white sweater, eye-catching silhouette, she was speaking to someone seated, hidden beyond the exam table. Just before I ducked into my office I heard her ask Joanne where the bathroom was located. I looked back and watched her scurry down the hallway. I had a few minutes.

ad goes here:advert-1
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

I cracked open the notebook.

Breast Implants & Automimmune Disease

It is 1994, and each month I consult on two or three women with silicone breast implants who may or may not have autoimmune disease. Without exception, they are in diffuse, excruciating pain and wonder if—no, they’re convinced that—the implants are the reason. It is a dramatically different consult from what I am accustomed to. As a rule, I see patients in consultation to answer two basic questions: What is the diagnosis? And second, how can the disease best be treated?

ad goes here:advert-2
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

This paradigm is completely turned around by my silicone breast implant evaluations.

The Case

Stokkete/shutterstock.com

Stokkete/shutterstock.com

Whitman, Connolly, and Favio, a New Orleans law firm representing thousands of breast implant sufferers, has kindly organized Mrs.—I flipped the page—Mrs. Hayden Morse’s medical file in minute detail and wants me to qualify her for the Dow Corning Breast Implant Settlement.

In the introductory letter, I am informed that I am worthy as a board-certified rheumatologist to verify that the claimant has scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), mixed connective tissue disease, polymyositis, dermatomyositis, primary Sjögren’s syndrome or an atypical rheumatic syndrome. My job is to review the documents, particularly those aspects of her case highlighted in yellow marker, examine the patient and check off the appropriate box on the settlement page. Browsing through the trail of yellow highlights, it’s pretty clear that the law firm is convinced its client has SLE. Do I agree?

ad goes here:advert-3
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 | Single Page

Filed Under: Conditions, SLE (Lupus) Tagged With: Autoimmune disease, breast implant, Diagnosis, Lupus, patient care, physician, rheumatologist, silicone, SLE, symptomIssue: December 2016

You Might Also Like:
  • Is B a Key to Autoimmune Therapy?: B Cell–targeted Therapies in Autoimmune Disease
  • Somatic Mosaicism Can Complicate Diagnosis of Autoimmune Disease
  • When Symptoms of Rheumatic Disorder Point to Endocrine Disease
  • 2013 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting: Clues to Predictors of Autoimmune Disease Revealed

American College of Rheumatology

Visit the official website for the American College of Rheumatology.

Visit the ACR »

ACR Convergence

Don’t miss rheumatology’s premier scientific meeting for anyone involved in research or the delivery of rheumatologic care or services.

Visit the ACR Convergence site »

Meeting Abstracts

Browse and search abstracts from the ACR Convergence and ACR/ARP Annual Meetings going back to 2012.

Visit the Abstracts site »

The Rheumatologist newsmagazine reports on issues and trends in the management and treatment of rheumatic diseases. The Rheumatologist reaches 11,500 rheumatologists, internists, orthopedic surgeons, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who practice, research, or teach in the field of rheumatology.

About Us / Contact Us / Advertise / Privacy Policy / Terms of Use / Cookie Preferences

  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed

Copyright © 2006–2023 American College of Rheumatology. All rights reserved.

ISSN 1931-3268 (print)
ISSN 1931-3209 (online)