(Do silicone breast implants cause connective tissue disease?)

An editorial by Cooper and Dennison in this week's BMJ provides a history of the controversial issue of breast implants, pointing to a body of evidence suggesting that there is no association with connective tissue disorders. The authors advise that until the results of a report by an independent Department of Health review group are published in the spring, the medical community should place greater reliance on the quality of evidence when appraising health issues such as this.

Contact:

Professor Cyrus Cooper, Professor of Rheumatology, MRC Environmental Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital