Cytogenetic impairments of peripheral blood lymphocytes during infectious mononucleosis.

We performed chromosomal analysis and micronucleus test of peripheral blood lymphocytes during infectious mononucleosis. The content of lymphocytes with structural chromosome aberrations and micronuclei increased in patients with pronounced clinical and hematological signs of infectious mononucleosis (acute stage). There were cells with changed number of chromosomes. These cytogenetic abnormalities persisted both during convalescence and in the delayed period after recovery.