DNA SINGLE-STRAND BREAKS IN PERIPHERAL HUMAN-LYMPHOCYTES AFTER ANESTHESIA WITH ISOFLURANE-NITROUS OXIDE-OXYGEN

DNA single strand breaks were determined in peripheral lymphocytes of neurosurgical patients before and after 180 min of general anesthesia with isoflurane (CAS 26675-46-7)-nitrous oxide-oxygen. Immediately aft er anesthesia, the frequency of DNA single strand-breaks appeared to b e significantly enhanced. In the majority of patients the DNA single s trand breaks induced was equivalent to the effect of 0.2-0.5 Gray foll owing x-ray radiation of lymphocytes in vitro. In a part of the examin ed patients these investigations were repeated on the first postoperat ive day. Then an increase of the frequency of DNA single strand breaks could not be demonstrated any more. The DNA single strand breaks were repaired by cellular repair systems. As DNA repair is regulated genet ically, isoflurane-nitrous oxide-oxygen could induce DNA damage in pat ients with DNA repair defects.