Breast implants in patients with differentiated and undifferentiated connective tissue disease

Objective. To assess the frequency of breast implantation and the relationship of the implants to the onset of symptoms in patients with differentiated and undifferentiated connective tissue disease (CTD). Methods. We evaluated an inception cohort of patients with differentiated and undifferentiated CTD and symptoms of < 12 months duration when enrolled in 1983–1987. The risk of having breast implants in those patients with early symptoms of CTD was determined in comparison with that in a non-concurrent control group. Results. Only 3 of 323 women in the cohort had historical, physical, or chest radiographic evidence of breast implantation. In 1 of the 3 patients, the symptoms of CTD began before the breast implantation. The odds ratio was calculated at 1.15, with a 95% confidence interval ranging from 0.23 to 3.41. Conclusion. This study showed an absence of significant risk for prior breast implantation surgery in patients with well-defined or undifferentiated CTD.