CYTOGENETIC STUDY OF TUBERCULOSIS PATIENTS BEFORE AND AFTER TUBERCULOSTATIC DRUG-TREATMENT

Cytogenetic analyses were carried out in lymphocytes of 15 untreated t uberculosis (tb) patients and 15 other tb patients who had received co mbined tuberculostatic chemotherapy HRZ (isoniazid + rifampicin + pyra zinamide) for 2 months. The frequency of chromosomal aberrations and s ister-chromatid exchanges (SCEs) did not show any statistically signif icant differences in the patients before treatment and after exposure to combined HRZ therapy as compared to controls (p > 0.05). However, w e observed that the mitotic index was significantly decreased in both groups (p < 0.05). Based on the results of the present study, we belie ve there is no indication for a chromosome damaging effect of HRZ and their metabolites in human lymphocytes in vivo after treatment of tube rculosis patients with optimum doses.