In vitro research on the possibility of chromosomal damage caused by polymethyl methacrylate in orthopaedics. A preliminary report.

There are few experimental studies in the literature concerned with evaluating the toxic effect of polymethyl methacrylate. Because of the number of patients who are now carriers of this substance, it seems important to ascertain whether or not it could cause chromosomal damage. This study reports the preliminary data obtained from an in vitro technique on human lymphocytes placed in contact with different concentrations of methyl methacrylate and its polymerized form. The method consists of an analysis of the exchanges of DNA tracts in the chromosomes of these lymphocytes; the increase in the frequency of exchange as compared to that in the controls is an indication of the mutagenic effect. A slight increase in the average frequency of isochromatid exchanges in the lymphocytes cultivated with the monomer was observed, and this deserves closer study. However, this preliminary data would appear to exclude the existence of chromosomal damage.