Incidence of chromosomal aberrations in patients under combined tuberculostatic chemotherapy

Chromosome studies were carried out on the peripheral blood lymphocytes of ten tuberculosis (tb) patients receiving combined tuberculostatic chemotherapy for long intervals (3-10 months) and on those of two control groups, one of ten healthy subjects and the second of ten other tb patients in whom the tuberculostatic treatment had been discontinued 10-19 months previously. An increased proportion of aberrations, particularly chromosomal breaks and achromatic gaps, were observed in the patients under treatment, suggesting a possible synergic interaction of INH and RMA in the production of chromosomal damage.