title: An estimate of genetic risk from 8-methoxypsoralen photochemotherapy.
abstract: A method based on a combination of cell culture and pharmacokinetic data is explored as a way of estimating the possible genetic risk to man from a mutagenic chemical. 8-methoxypsoralen, which is given to psoriasis patients as part of a photochemotherapy regime, is used, since it represents a 'real-life' situation and possesses properties that make it particularly amenable to this approach. It is concluded that treatment of males for a mean period of 10 years before their spermatozoa were involved in conception would increase the gene mutation rate in the male germ line by a factor of 0.00125. The implications of this for the incidence of sex-linked and dominant disease in man are elaborated and the assumptions and limitations are set out. The fragility of the estimates is emphasized.
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008730:Methoxsalen / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity*; D009154:Mutation; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012306:Risk; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D004247:DNA; D008730:Methoxsalen