Chromosome abnormalities from cyclophosphamide therapy in rheumatoid arthritis and progressive systemic sclerosis (scleroderma)

Abstract

Abstract In patients with rheumatoid arthritis and scleroderma, the frequency of major chromosome abnormalities was appreciably increased by prolonged therapy with cyclophosphamide. Metaphases from 8 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, receiving this cytotoxic drug (0.5–2.0 mg/kg/day), showed a significantly greater frequency in hypodiploidy and chromosome type breaks than a comparable control series. In addition, 5 patients with scleroderma were studied before and after the administration of cyclophosphamide and a significant increase in the number of cytogenetic aberrations was observed during therapy.