Silicone-induced human adjuvant disease?

Abstract

Human adjuvant disease is an immunologically mediated disorder manifested by arthritis, arthralgias, skin lesions, malaise, pyrexia, and weight loss. Clinically, it often resembles rheumatoid arthritis and Reiter's syndrome. While scattered cases of adjuvant disease have been reported following injections with silicone fluid of unknown purity, paraffin, and petroleum jelly, no cases of adjuvant disease following silicone gel implant mammaplasty have been reported. We present such a case, discuss the pertinent biology of silicone, and review the literature describing adjuvant disease.