Chromosomal aberrations in leucocyte metaphases of leprosy patients under dapsone therapy

ABSTRACT

Chromosome analyses were made on leukocyte metaphases of 18 leprosy patients who were ingesting daily doses of 50 mg or 100 mg of DDS and of 40 healthy individuals used for control. These analyses have shown that the proportion of numerical chromosomal aberrations in the leukocyte metaphases of the leprosy patients did not differ significantly from that observed in the cells of the controls. In contrast, the frequency of cells with chromatid or chromosome breaks and gaps was significantly increased in the leukocytesof leprosy patients. Multiple regression analysis applied to the data recorded has shown that the increase of breaks and gaps in the chromosomes of leprosy patients can not be attributed to age, years under sulfonetherapy or to concentration of DDS in blood.