[Chromosome anomalies in rheumatoid polyarthritis. Breakage level and study of the breaking factor].

This current study confirms the significant elevation of the rate of chromosomal abnormalities (18.32 p. cent in 90.62 p. cent of cases) and the presence of a breaking capacity of the serum in a series of 78 rheumatoid polyarthritis compared with a control group. Chromosomal gaps and breaks represent the most frequently encountered lesions. These lesions are observed from the onset of the disease but are not specific of this disease. Chromosomal abnormalities do not seem to be randomly distributed on the chromosomes. They are not correlated with clinical or biological parameters in a statistically significant fashion. The cytogenetic study only represents a non specific biological test of rheumatoid disease. The advantage could apply, in practice, to beginning or atypical forms of rheumatoid polyarthritis in order to identify them within the group of auto-immune diseases.