Spallation and migration of silicone from blood-pump tubing in patients on hemodialysis

Journal Article · Thu Jan 21 00:00:00 EST 1982 · N.Engl. J. Med.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM198201213060303· OSTI ID:5361699

Leong, A S; Disney, A P; Gove, D W

Spalled particles of silicone were observed in the livers of patients with chronic renal failure treated by hemodialysis. The refractile particles of silicone were associated with various degrees of hepatic inflammation and fibrosis, and granulomatous hepatitis was evident in nine cases. Retrospective examination revealed the material in 18 of 38 liver-biopsy samples from patients on hemodialysis who had clinical hepatic dysfunction. Of 31 autopsies of patients who had undergone hemodialysis, 22 revealed silicone in the liver, and silicone was also present in the spleen in all cases and in the marrow, lungs, and nodes in some. Giant cells containing silicone were also observed in these organs. Silicone was present in patients who had undergone hemodialysis for six weeks to 84 months (mean, 24 months). The identity of the material was confirmed by atomic absorption and by electron microprobe analysis. The silicone was traced to a segment of silicone tubing located in the roller pump of the dialysis machine.

• Research Organization: Department of Histopathology and the Renal Unit, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
• OSTI ID: 5361699
• Journal Information: N.Engl. J. Med.; (United States), Vol. 306:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
DIALYSIS
MECHANICAL KIDNEY
HEALTH HAZARDS
SILICONES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BONE MARROW
FIBROSIS
HEPATITIS
INFLAMMATION
LIVER
LUNGS
LYMPH NODES
PARTICLES
PATIENTS
SPLEEN
TUBES
TUMOR CELLS
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMAL TISSUES
ARTIFICIAL ORGANS
BODY
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM DISEASES
DISEASES
GLANDS
HAZARDS
HEMATOPOIETIC SYSTEM
KIDNEYS
LYMPHATIC SYSTEM
MEDICAL SUPPLIES
ORGANS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
POLYMERS
PROSTHESES
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SILOXANES
SYMPTOMS
TISSUES
560306* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Man- (-1987)
500600 - Environment
Atmospheric- Regulations- (-1989)