Decreased Use of Anti-Inflammatory Medications in Autoimmune Connective Tissue Disease Patients Following Breast Implant Removal: A National Analysis.

BACKGROUND

Recent case studies demonstrate resolution of rheumatologic symptoms following implant explantation, raising concern around breast implant illness and associated inflammatory symptomatology. In patients with connective tissue disorders (CTD) and breast implants, we quantified the number of anti-inflammatory medications as a proxy for inflammation and disease burden before and after implant removal.

METHODS

Using the Clinformatics Data Mart Database, adult female patients from 2003 to 2021 were queried. codes were used to identify patients who underwent implant-based reconstruction and subsequent implant removal. (ICD-9) and (ICD-10) codes identified patients with CTD. Filled prescriptions of anti-inflammatory drugs were quantified for each patient during the preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative windows surrounding breast implant removal.

RESULTS

Of 1015 patients meeting criteria (mean age 56 ± 12 years), 821 (81%) filled prescriptions during the preoperative window, 753 (74%) filled during the perioperative window, and 735 (73%) filled during the postoperative window. Patients filled significantly fewer postoperative prescriptions than preoperative prescriptions ( < .001).Statistically significant predictors of the number of anti-inflammatory prescriptions filled in the postoperative window included additional anti-inflammatory prescriptions filled in the preoperative ( < .001) and perioperative ( < .001) windows. Experiencing a complication was not associated with the number of prescriptions filled in the postoperative window ( = .935).

CONCLUSIONS

We found a significant decrease in filled anti-inflammatory prescriptions in patients with known CTD following implant removal, suggesting that breast implant removal may help diminish inflammatory symptomology in predisposed patients.