Breast implant illness

{{Infobox medical condition (new)

| name = Breast implant illness

| synonyms = Autoimmune/autoinflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants

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| field = Gynecology, toxicology

| symptoms = Arthralgia, chronic fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, dryness of the eyes, dryness of the mouth, myalgia, pyrexia

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| causes = Aggravation of underlying autoimmune diseases caused by silicone breast implants

| risks = Family or personal history of allergies or autoimmune diseases

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Breast implant illness (BII), also known as autoimmune/autoinflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA), along with other terms, is a purported condition that is said to affect certain women with breast implants. Its acceptance as a legitimate disease is controversial,{{cite journal |last1=Magnusson |first1=Mark R. |last2=Cooter |first2=Rod D. |last3=Rakhorst |first3=Hinne |last4=McGuire |first4=Patricia A. |last5=Adams |first5=William P. |last6=Deva |first6=Anand K. |title=Breast Implant Illness: A Way Forward |journal=Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery |date=March 2019 |volume=143 |issue=3S |pages=74S–81S |doi=10.1097/PRS.0000000000005573|pmid=30817559 }}{{cite journal |last1=Kaplan |first1=J |last2=Rohrich |first2=R |title=Breast implant illness: a topic in review. |journal=Gland Surgery |date=January 2021 |volume=10 |issue=1 |pages=430–443 |doi=10.21037/gs-20-231 |pmid=33634001|doi-access=free|pmc=7882356 }} but some evidence exists supporting the idea that silicone-based breast implants can trigger autoimmune responses in patients with underlying allergies or autoimmune diseases.{{cite journal |last1=Cohen Tervaert |first1=Jw |last2=Mohazab |first2=N |last3=Redmond |first3=D |last4=van Eeden |first4=C |last5=Osman |first5=M. |title=Breast implant illness: scientific evidence of its existence |journal=Expert Review of Clinical Immunology |date=2 January 2022 |volume=18 |issue=1 |pages=15–29 |doi=10.1080/1744666X.2022.2010546|doi-access=free |pmid=34882509 }} Nonetheless, it remains poorly defined, and its existence has still not been conclusively proven.{{cite journal |last1=Yang |first1=Siling |last2=Klietz |first2=Marie-Luise |last3=Harren |first3=Anna Katharina |last4=Wei |first4=Qiang |last5=Hirsch |first5=Tobias |last6=Aitzetmüller |first6=Matthias M |title=Understanding Breast Implant Illness: Etiology is the Key |journal=Aesthetic Surgery Journal |date=15 March 2022 |volume=42 |issue=4 |pages=370–377 |doi=10.1093/asj/sjab197}} The idea of BII has existed since the 1960s, but it has more recently been popularized on social media — particularly among non-experts — a process that may increase fear and anxiety regarding the condition and encourage self-diagnosis. There are currently no diagnostic criteria nor specific diagnostic tests, thus BII is considered to be a diagnosis of exclusion.{{cite web|last1=McGuire|first1=Patricia|last2=Clauw|first2=Daniel J.|last3=Hammer|first3=Jason|last4=Haws|first4=Melinda Haws|last5=Adams|first5=William P. (Jr)|title=A Practical Guide to Managing Patients With Systemic Symptoms and Breast Implants|website=pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov|publisher=National Library of Medicine|date=October 23, 2021|url=https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8922689/|access-date=January 21, 2025}}{{cite web|last=McGuire|first=Patricia|title=Commentary on: Self-Reported Breast Implant Illness: The Contribution of Systemic Illnesses and Other Factors to Patient Symptoms|website=pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov|publisher=National Library of Medicine|date=April 13, 2023|url=https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10263258/|access-date=January 21, 2025}}