[Chromosome studies before and after phenylbutazone infusion therapy]

Studies on chromosomes of lymphocyte cultures of peripheral blood were performed in 15 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (group I: 48-h culture, n = 8; group II; 72-h culture, n = 7) before and after phenylbutazone infusion therapy (600 mg/d for 10 days). The average rate of cells with exchange aberrations of chromosomal type after this therapy (group I: 0.52%; group II: 0.69%) was higher than the control values found before treatment (group I: 0.13%; group II: 0%); X2 test: group I + II: P less than 0.025. The results obtained are discussed.