[Cytogenetic aspects of diffuse scleroderma. Structural anomalies and sister chromatid exchanges]

Structural chromosome anomalies (1 477 cells examined) and sister chromatid exchanges after two replication cycles with BrdU (771 cells studied) were evaluated in 12 patients with diffuse scleroderma and having received no recent or important irradiation. The increase of structural anomalies, chromatidic as well as chromosomal, is always low, inconstant and cannot be considered as having a diagnostic value. Increase of sister chromatid exchanges could be a more sensitive method of investigation. In particular, it is not influenced by low doses of diagnostic X-rays.