Absence of cytogenetic effects in children and adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder treated with methylphenidate
Abstract
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common psychiatric condition with onset in childhood, and in more than 50% of cases it persists into adulthood as a chronic disorder. Over five million methylphenidate (MPH) prescriptions were issued in the USA in 2003, mostly for children. A previous report [R.A. El-Zein, S.Z. Abdel-Rahman, M.J. Hay, M.S. Lopez, M.L. Bondy, D.L. Morris and M.S. Legator Cytogenetic effects in children treated with methylphenidate, Cancer Lett. 230 (2005) 284-291.] described the induction of chromosome abnormalities by MPH in children treated for three months, contrary to most of the in vitro and in vivo studies reported since then. We present new relevant information concerning the cytogenetic effects of MPH in children and adults. We include a prospective sample of 12 children and 7 adults with a new diagnosis of ADHD and naive to MPH. We analyzed the cytogenetic effects on peripheral lymphocytes before and three months after starting MPH therapy. The cytogenetic analyses included a cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay, a sister chromatid exchange (SCE) analysis and the determination of chromosome aberrations (CA). Following the same strategy and analyzing the same cytogenetic endpoints that were investigated in the original report [R.A. El-Zein, S.Z. Abdel-Rahman, M.J. Hay, M.S. Lopez, M.L. Bondy, D.L. Morris and M.S. Legator Cytogenetic effects in children treated with methylphenidate, Cancer Lett. 230 (2005) 284-291.], we found no evidence of increased frequency of micronuclei, sister chromatid exchanges or chromosome aberrations induced by MPH in children and adult populations. MPH treatment of children and adults with ADHD resulted in no significant genomic damage (as suggested by the three endpoints studied), results that do not support a potential increased risk of cancer after exposure to MPH.
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No cytogenetic side-effects from stimulant use have been reported.
“Likewise, no cytogenetic side-effects from stimulant use have been reported [60,61].”
From Advances in understanding and treating ADHD (2011) · cites this paper as [60]
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Advances in understanding and treating ADHD
Antshel, K. M., Hargrave, T. M., Simonescu, M., Kaul, P., Hendricks, K., & Faraone, S. V. (2011) · BMC Medicine · doi:10.1186/1741-7015-9-72 · Cited by 140 · see citing works
- Authors
- Ponsa, I., Ramos-Quiroga, J. A., Ribasés, M., Bosch, R., Bielsa, A., Ordeig, M. T., Morell, M., Miró, R., de Cid, R., Estivill, X., Casas, M., Bayés, M., Cormand, B., & Hervás, A.
- Affiliations
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (ES)
- Vall d'Hebron Hospital Universitari (ES)
- University Hospital Mútua de Terrassa (ES)
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (ES)
- Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ES)
- Venue
- Mutation Research - Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2009-06
- Volume
- 666
- Issue
- 1-2
- Pages
- 44-49
- ISSN
- 0027-5107 (ISSN-L)
- 1386-1964
- OpenAlex
- W2149334606
- Cited by
- 21
- References
- 46
- Citations by year
- 2025: 2 · 2018: 1 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 1.56
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Mutation research. Fundamental and molecular mechanisms of mutagenesis (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca (2005SGR00495, 2005SGR00848)
- Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI040524, PI041267, PI042010)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cancer Research › Carcinogens and Genotoxicity Assessment
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genomic variations and chromosomal abnormalities
- Keywords
- methylphenidate, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, cytogenetic effects, chromosomal abnormalities, micronuclei, sister chromatid exchange, peripheral blood lymphocytes, drug-induced genotoxicity, cancer risk, children, adults
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Central Nervous System Stimulants, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Child, Chromosome Aberrations, Female, Humans, Male, Methylphenidate, Middle Aged, Sister Chromatid Exchange, Micronucleus Tests
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