DOI: 10.12890/2016_000513

Still’s-like Disease Induced by Breast Implants in a Middle-Aged Female Health Professional

Authors

  • Giagkos Michael Lavranos Department of Internal Medicine, Nicosia University General Hospital, Nicosia
  • Demetra Kouma Department of Internal Medicine, Nicosia University General Hospital, Nicosia
  • Antonis Deveros Department of Internal Medicine, Nicosia University General Hospital, Nicosia
  • Georgia Pigiotou Department of Internal Medicine, Nicosia University General Hospital, Nicosia
  • Georgios Samanis Department of Internal Medicine, Nicosia University General Hospital, Nicosia
  • Chrysostomos Zintilis Department of Internal Medicine, Nicosia University General Hospital, Nicosia

G.Lavranos@euc.ac.cy

Keywords

breast implants, fever of unknown origin, silicone, Still disease

Abstract

We report a case of silicone-induced Still’s-like inflammatory syndrome diagnosed after extensive investigation in the department of internal medicine of a secondary hospital. A 45-year-old female healthcare specialist presented with fever, headache, sore throat, myalgia and fatigue. A history of breast augmentation surgery in 2007 was confirmed. Physical examination of the patient was normal while laboratory tests showed a very high white blood cell count. The patient was admitted to hospital due to suspected infection and further laboratory tests were carried out. Inflammatory markers were persistently high despite empirical treatment with doxycycline for possible infection by Rickettsia/Coxiella. As the fever did not resolve and the patient had not improved after more than 3 weeks, the case was investigated as fever of unknown origin. Eventually, the existence of liver granulomas as well as the presence of anti-silicone antibodies confirmed the diagnosis of silicone-induced Still’s-like inflammatory syndrome. In conclusion, this case supports a linkage between silicone breast implants and autoimmune connective tissue diseases.

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References

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Published

2017-01-27

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 1 (2017)

How to Cite

1.
Lavranos GM, Kouma D, Deveros A, Pigiotou G, Samanis G, Zintilis C. Still’s-like Disease Induced by Breast Implants in a Middle-Aged Female Health Professional. EJCRIM [Internet]. 2017 Jan. 27 [cited 2026 Nov. 3];4(1). Available from: https://ejcrim.com/index.php/ejcrim/article/view/513