Sister chromatid exchanges in lymphocytes of psoriatics after treatment with 8-methoxypsoralen and long wave ultraviolet radiation

Abstract

Sister chromatid exchange rates in cultured cells from the blood of patients receiving photochemotherapy were examined as an indicator of possible genetic hazards of the treatment to patients with psoriasis. Lymphocytes of untreated patients with psoriasis appear to have sister chromatid exchange rates after 72 h of culture indistinguishable from normal subjects. There is no evidence that sister chromatid exchanges are significantly increased in the lymphocytes of patients receiving photochemistry. Cells from blood taken from patients who were given 8-methoxypsoralen orally 2 h before and then irradiated with UV-A [long wave UV] in vitro had an increased exchange rate which could be related to the presence of the drug in the peripheral circulation.