Chromosome aberrations in chronic renal failure

ABSTRACT

A high frequency of cancer appears among uremic patients. Meanwhile, occupational and environmental pollutants may have a role in the development of chronic renal failure [CRF] and some of these pollutants have a potential genotoxic and carcinogenic effects. The present study was undertaken to investigate the rate of chromosomal aberrations [CA] in patients with advanced CRF of known and unknown etiology. Chromosomes were analyzed in Peripheral blood lymphocytes of two groups of patients with CRF. Group I [n = 10] with known and group II [n = 10] with unknown etiology of CRF and the results were compared to those of 10 healthy controls [group III] of matched age, sex and region of residence [urban or countryside] to those in group I, II. Increased rate of CA of peripheral blood lymphocytes predominantly of chromatid break was noticed in patients with unknown etiology of CRF in comparison to the controls and to patients with known cause of CRF. Similar findings were obtained among farmers in group I, II in comparison to the controls and to other subjects with CRF. Increased rate of chromosomal damage occurs among patients with unknown etiology of CRF and also among farmers with CRF which may suggest a role of environmental exposure to genotoxic agent which may be nephrotoxic. The impact of these findings on the increased cancer incidence among uremic patients deserve further follow up studies