Anaphylatoxin release in association with methylmethacrylate fixation of hip prostheses

In a prospective study, thirty patients in whom a Charnley hip prosthesis was implanted with cement (methylmethacrylate) and fifteen who received a prosthesis without cement were studied. The activation of complement, as indicated by the release of anaphylatoxins (C3a and C5a), reduced activity of whole complement, and decreased levels of C3, C4, and C5 in plasma, was evaluated. Activation of complement was found when methylmethacrylate was used. In patients in whom components were fixed without cement, no formation of anaphylatoxins occurred, and only slightly reduced whole-complement activity and concentrations of C3, C4, and C5 in plasma were found. A dose-correlated release of the anaphylatoxins was found when monomethylmethacrylate was incubated in fresh serum. One explanation for the hemodynamic instability in these patients might be the biological effects of anaphylatoxins that are released in association with fixation by cement.