Chromosome breakage and sister chromatid exchange frequencies in scleroderma.

Peripheral lymphocytes from 3 scleroderma patients with systemic disease and from 3 normal controls were examined for frequencies of chromosomal aberration and sister chromatid exchange (SCE). Significant increases in the levels of chromosomal anomaly and SCE were found for all 3 patients. These results are discussed in terms of the diagnostic potential of SCE in scleroderma and the possible etiologic role of cytogenetic instability in this disease.