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

Abstract

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.

Authors:
; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Department of Histopathology and the Renal Unit, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
OSTI Identifier:
5361699
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
N.Engl. J. Med.; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 306:3
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
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)

Citation Formats

Leong, A S, Disney, A P, and Gove, D W. Spallation and migration of silicone from blood-pump tubing in patients on hemodialysis. United States: N. p., 1982. Web. doi:10.1056/NEJM198201213060303.
Leong, A S, Disney, A P, & Gove, D W. Spallation and migration of silicone from blood-pump tubing in patients on hemodialysis. United States. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM198201213060303
Leong, A S, Disney, A P, and Gove, D W. 1982. "Spallation and migration of silicone from blood-pump tubing in patients on hemodialysis". United States. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM198201213060303.
@article{osti_5361699,
title = {Spallation and migration of silicone from blood-pump tubing in patients on hemodialysis},
author = {Leong, A S and Disney, A P and Gove, D W},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {10.1056/NEJM198201213060303},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5361699}, journal = {N.Engl. J. Med.; (United States)},
number = ,
volume = 306:3,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Jan 21 00:00:00 EST 1982},
month = {Thu Jan 21 00:00:00 EST 1982}
}