LYMPHOCYTE-PROLIFERATION KINETICS AND SISTER-CHROMATID EXCHANGES IN INDIVIDUALS TREATED WITH METRONIDAZOLE

Metronidazole, an effective agent for the treatment of protozoan infec tions, is frequently used in developing countries. However, the employ ment of this drug has been questioned in view of its mutagenicity in b acteria and carcinogenicity in mice. A genotoxic study was carried out in which cellular proliferation kinetics and the frequency of sister- chromatid exchanges were determined in human peripheral blood lymphocy tes from 12 individuals treated with therapeutic doses of metronidazol e. No effect was observed on mitotic index with the treatment, althoug h a significant increase was found in three individuals after treatmen t. No increase of sister-chromatid exchanges was detected. The rate of lymphocyte proliferation kinetic showed an increase after the metroni dazole treatment in all patients, indicating a possible immunostimulat ory action.