Chromosomal aberrations in chronic male alcoholics.

A group of 23 male heavy drinkers was studied cytogenetically, and the results were compared with those obtained from a control group of 50 non-drinkers. The data are based on karyological analysis of dividing lymphocytes in 72-hr blood cultures. Alcoholics revealed a significantly higher frequency of numerical and structural chromosomal aberrations. Chromosome rearrangements were observed only among alcoholics. The most frequent exchange type was dicentrics (0.02 per cell, constituting 65.1% of the total exchanges), followed by reciprocal translocations (0.005 per cell), and pericentric inversions (0.002 per cell). The significance of the presence of these types of chromosomal aberrations in the blood of alcoholics is discussed in terms of its prevalence and association with known syndromes and diseases. The possible effects and/or interactions of other factors such as duration of alcohol abuse, drugs, and smoking were also emphasized.