title: Cytotoxicity assessment of latex urinary catheters on cultured human urothelial cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the toxicity of latex urinary catheters on cultured human urothelial cells (HUC).
  
  
  METHODS
  We exposed monolayers of HUC (well characterized for their proliferation, qualitative evaluation and quantitative measurement of cytokeratins) to either pure or diluted liquid latex extracts, obtained under standard conditions or by direct contact with materials.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The latex urinary catheter appears to be highly toxic since cell viability and metabolic activity were about 10% of those of negative controls for original extracts. Concerning direct contact, latex reduced cell viability, metabolic activity and cell proliferation of HUC on days 1, 3 and 8.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high toxicity of latex on HUC is confirmed for extracts and direct contact. Therefore, it should no longer be used for urinary catheters.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Medicine, Pellegrin Hospital Bordeaux, and INSERM U 443, University Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2, France.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Pariente
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bordenave
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jacob
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bareille
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baquey
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Le Guillou
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D012408:Rubber / Q000633:toxicity*; D014546:Urinary Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation*; D019459:Urothelium / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D012408:Rubber