RESUMO
DNA single strand breaks were determined in peripheral lymphocytes of neurosurgical patients before and after 180 min of general anesthesia with isoflurane (CAS 26675-46-7)-nitrous oxide-oxygen. Immediately after anesthesia, the frequency of DNA single strand-breaks appeared to be significantly enhanced. In the majority of patients the DNA single strand breaks induced was equivalent to the effect of 0.2-0.5 Gray following x-ray radiation of lymphocytes in vitro. In a part of the examined patients these investigations were repeated on the first postoperative day. Then an increase of the frequency of DNA single strand breaks could not be demonstrated any more. The DNA single strand breaks were repaired by cellular repair systems. As DNA repair is regulated genetically, isoflurane-nitrous oxide-oxygen could induce DNA damage in patients with DNA repair defects.
