Cytogenetic effects of steroidal drug dexamethasone on human lymphocytes.

Dexamethasone, a steroidal hormone has potential application in pharmacolog y. This drug possesses antiinflammatory, immunosuppressive, antibacterial, antimicrobial and antiviral activity. The cytogenetic effects of this drug was studied on human chromosomes in lymphocyte cultures in vitro and in viv o. There was no increase in the chromosomal aberration and sister chromatid exchange (SCE) frequency with dexamethasone at any concentration which was equivalent to plasma level and slightly higher than the plasma level in vi tro. However, a significant increase in the frequency of chromosome aberrat ion as well as SCE was seen in patients given therapeutic doses of dexameth asone when compared to the control of two types-(a) Arthritis patients befo re starting the drug therapy, and (b) the normal healthy individuals from t he general population. The most frequently observed abberrations were chrom atid gaps and breaks. Therefore, our study indicates that dexamethasone is clastogenic in vivo but not in vitro.