DNA-DAMAGE EVALUATED BY THE ALKALINE COMET ASSAY IN LYMPHOCYTES OF HUMANS ANESTHETIZED WITH ISOFLURANE

In the present paper, we report data on the possible DNA damage, induc ed in vivo by isoflurane using the alkaline single cell gel electropho resis technique (SCGE-comet assay) in patients before/after anaesthesi a and in control group. Twelve patients, aged 22-66 years old, were an aesthetized for elective abdominal surgery with isoflurane in oxygen f or 120-162 min(mean: 133.2 min). Venous blood samples were obtained fr om the patients before the induction of anaesthesia, at 60 and 120 min of anaesthesia and on the first, third and fifth following days of an aesthesia, SCGE was examined in 100 cells from each specimen graded as undamaged, intermediate and tailed nuclei. The number of undamaged nu cleus was almost same in control and in patients before anaesthesia. H owever, significant differences were observed in proportion of undamag ed, intermediate and tailed nucleus of patients at 60 and 120 min of a naesthesia and on the first day. DNA damage started to return to norma l rates after the third day of anaesthesia and were almost identical w ith the rates of control group five days later. (C) 1998 Elsevier Scie nce B.V. All rights reserved.