IN-VIVO CYTOGENETIC STUDIES OF THE GENOTOXIC EFFECTS OF POLYMETHYL METHACRYLATE EMPLOYED IN ORTHOPEDICS

Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is a material employed as a cement in p rosthesis that has been found to induce cytogenetic damage in human ly mphocytes in vitro. This effect is particularly achieved before the 5t h day of the exposition, while after this period no significant variat ions appeared. In the present study, results of cytogenetic tests in h umans are reported. Sister chromatid exchange analysis and micronucleu s tests have been performed on lymphocytes of patients who had undergo ne prosthesization with cemented prosthesis (group A) or with biologic al anchorage prosthesis, as control (group B). DNA damage was investig ated before implantation and 5 d after surgery in both groups. Cytogen etic tests did not show any significant increase in the number of micr onuclei and sister chromatid exchanges with respect to control values in patients with PMMA cemented prosthesis. (C) 1998 Chapman & Hall.