The influence of vitamin E on capsule formation and contracture around silicone implants.

An attempt was made to determine if the tissue response to surgical trauma and foreign body stimulus (silicone implants) could be altered using vitamin E in rats. The animals were divided into four groups: Group A served as controls, Group B were treated by intramuscular vitamin E, Group C were treated topically with vitamin E around the prosthesis, and Group D were treated topically with croton oil around the prosthesis. The animals in each group were killed at 2 week, 1 month, and 3 months intervals. The intraprosthetic pressure in each prosthesis was recorded using a strain gauge transducer. The capsules were then removed and examined histologically using a light microscope and the thickness of pseudocapsules was measured with an ocular micrometer. In Group B significantly thinner pseudocapsules were observed at 2 weeks, but there was no comparable difference either in thickness or degree of contracture (as measured by intraprosthetic pressures) between Groups A and B at 2 months and 3 months. In Group C, the pseudocapsules were significantly thicker at all tested periods and showed noticeable contracture at 3 months. In group D the pseudocapsules were thickest and cellular infiltrate more marked than in the other groups.