Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38550431›Full record

ArticleCureus2024

Saline Breast Implant Associated With Inflammatory Arthritis and Positive Antinuclear Antibodies (ANA): A Case Report.

Emily R Littman, Kathleen Mccabe, Shazia Beg

Open access · diamondAbstract readCase Reports
In one paragraph

Article in Cureus, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
1.7field-weighted citation impact, top 18% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 3 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Exploring Silicone-Induced Lupus Through a Case Report.Mediterranean journal of rheumatology · 2025
    Article
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Emily R LittmanMedicine, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, USA.
Kathleen MccabeRheumatology, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, USA.
Shazia BegRheumatology, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, USA.
Florida College · US

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Breast implants, whether silicone or saline-filled, have a silicone shell and have been used for decades. Studies have shown an association between silicon with systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, progressive systemic sclerosis, and vasculitis. However, controversy and inconsistency have been pervasive in the literature with respect to the role of breast implants in the development of autoimmune diseases. A 39-year-old female with a past medical history of breast cancer and a family history of Sjogren's syndrome was referred to rheumatology for positive antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and polyarthralgia. She received textured saline breast implants for post-mastectomy reconstruction and subsequently developed fatigue, bilateral joint pain in her hands, wrists, and feet, and swelling in her fingers with prolonged morning stiffness, unintentional weight loss, and dry eyes. Physical examination revealed mild swelling of the bilateral metacarpophalangeal (MCP), proximal interphalangeal joint (PIP,) and distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints, and difficulty making a fist. Laboratory workup revealed a normal complete blood count (CBC) and comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) with slight elevations in inflammatory markers. Autoimmune workup revealed positive ANA 1:640 (nucleolar) and 1:160 (speckled), positive U1RNP, and RNA polymerase III with negative SSA/SSB/dsDNA and Scl-70 Ab. Following elective implant removal after nationwide recall for heightened cancer risk, many of her symptoms spontaneously resolved. The clinical case of inflammatory arthritis with positive ANA antibodies following saline breast implants highlights the importance of considering the possible health implications of silicone from a rheumatologic perspective. This case demonstrates that it may be reasonable that an association exists, and further research on a large scale would be valuable.

Indexed as

antinuclear antibodiesautoimmune disorderbreast implantsinflammatory arthritissilicone

Identifiers

PMID38550431
PMCPMC10977612
OpenAlexW4392184561

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.