[Induction of chromosome aberrations by antirheumatic therapy]

1. The comparison between mean structural chromosomal aberration rates after immunosuppressive therapy and the rate of induction of malignant tumours after application of the same cytostatic substances to animals revealed a far-reaching parallelism: Highest mean aberration rates after therapy with procarbazine (Natulan) and cyclophosphamide (Endoxan) - fewer aberrations after mannitol mustard (Degranol) and no definite induction of chromosomal aberrations after azathioprine (Imurel) (8). 2. The possibility of the induction of chromosomal aberrations in lymphocytes of the peripheral blood after injection of gold 198 into the knee-joint, could be confirmed (9). 3. The mean chromosomal aberration rates before and after infusiontherapy with phenylbutazone (Butazolidin; 300 mg + 600 mg/die during 9 days) showed no significant difference (10).