Chromosomal damage in lymphocytes of controls and patients with autosomal and sex-chromosomal disorders.

The frequency of chromosomal aberrations was studied in lymphocytes from karyotypically abnormal patients and normal donors. There was no difference between normal females and Down's syndrome female patients. Male Down's syndrome patients showed a significant increase in aberrations of normal diploid male lymphocytes and a significant difference was observed in male and female Down's syndrome patients. Sex-chromosomally abnormal patients, both X and Y chromosome deficient, showed elevated chromosomal aberrations compared with age and sex-matched normal diploid cells.