No effect of methacrylate-based bone cement CMW 1 on the plasmatic phase of coagulation, red blood cells and endothelial cells in vitro

The compatibility of a methacrylate-based bone cement (CMW 1, DePuy Interna tional Ltd, England) used for the fixation of joint prostheses was evaluate d on plasma, an erythrocyte suspension and cultured human endothelial cells . The extract of the cement was tested, following 1 hour and 7 days of curi ng, After the contact in vitro of the extract with plasma, activated partia l thromboplastin time, antithrombin III, thrombin-antithrombin complexes an d fibrin degradation products were assayed. Hemolytic activity was tested b y adding the cement extracts to a suspension of erythrocytes, After 4 hours of incubation at 37 degreesC, the hemoglobin concentration was determined on the supernatants by the colorimetric method. The effect of the cement on tissue factor and thrombomodulin production was evaluated on human umbilic al vein endothelial cell cultures. Tissue factor was determined in cell lys ates by enzyme immunoassay, following 4 hours' incubation of cultures with the cement extract Thrombomodulin was assayed in cell lysates by enzyme imm une assay, after 24 hours' incubation with the cement extract. The response to all trans retinoic acid (ATRA) was tested. The cement caused no significant modifications of the coagulation tests, ha d no hemolytic activity, did not determine tissue factor production and did not modify thrombomodulin, compared to the negative control. The response to stimulation with ATRA was similar to that of the negative control. We co nclude that the cement extract does not affect the plasmatic phase of coagu lation, has no effect on erythrocytes, does not induce the expression of pr ocoagulant activity by endothelial cells and does not impair their antithro mbotic property, within the limits of the tests performed. (ATRU) waas test ed.