Cytogenetic investigations of patients on clodronate therapy for Paget's disease of bone.

In order to judge whether or not clodronate used for treatment of patients with Paget's disease of bone had an effect on the haematopoetic tissue, the frequency of chromosome/chromatid breaks in bone marrows and blood cells was evaluated. Seven patients were studied before treatment, after a few days of treatment and after greater than or equal to 2 months of treatment. Three additional patients were studied after exposure to clodronate for greater than or equal to 6 months. There was no significant increase in the occurrence of chromosomal aberrations induced by treatment. Thus no negative effect of clodronate on the haematopoetic tissue could be noted.