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LETTER TO THE EDITOR - COMMENTS ON CYTOGENETIC EFFECTS IN CHILDREN TREATED WITH METHYLPHENIDATE
Citation:
PRESTON, J., S. H. KOLLINS, J. M. SWANSON, L. L. GREENHILL, T. WIGAL, G. R. ELLIOT, AND B. VITIELLO. LETTER TO THE EDITOR - COMMENTS ON CYTOGENETIC EFFECTS IN CHILDREN TREATED WITH METHYLPHENIDATE. CANCER LETTERS. Elsevier Science Ltd, New York, NY, 230(2):292-294, (2005).
Impact/Purpose:
To reply in letter to editor on cytogenetic effects in children
Description:
The recent report by El-Zein et al. suggests that chromosome alterations may be a consequence of short-term methylphenidate use for the treatment of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The report concludes that 3 months of treatment with methylphenidate increases the frequencies of chromosomal aberrations in peripheral lymphocytes of 12 ADHD children studied and sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) and micronuclei (MN) in 11 of these children. The conclusions of the study, as reported, could have far¬reaching implications for the assessment of adverse outcomes from methylphenidate treatment and for this reason warrant careful attention. However, considerations of the literature and the methods used suggest that the results should be interpreted with caution. Further, work is necessary before any definitive conclusions can be drawn.