Cytogenetic effects of cardioangiography on blood lymphocytes in children and in vitro effects of contrast medium and low dose radiation.

Structural chromosome aberrations were analysed in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of 15 children, aged 1 to 13 years, before, immediately after, 24 hours after and 6 to 8 months after cardioangiographic examination. Statistically significant increases were only demonstrated in the frequency of gaps (p less than 0.05) and, consequently, in the frequency of aberrant cells (p less than 0.05) immediately after cardioangiography. Most of the chromosome damage clearly disappeared within 24 hours. In addition, whole blood cultures were exposed in vitro to low dose radiation, a contrast medium, and radiation together with the contrast medium. No statistically significant differences could be observed in the chromosome aberration frequencies. It was concluded that the modern radiographic procedure, which uses very low radiation doses and less contrast medium, does not cause a consistent, permanent increase of chromosomal damage in the lymphocytes of children. However, the situation may be different if the child undergoes many radiographic examinations or the radiation doses are high.