Variations of DNA damage in human lymphocytes after enflurane exposure in vitro.

The rate of DNA single strand-breaks in lymphocytes of 160 human donors were determined after enflurane (CAS 13838-16-9) exposure in vitro. The rate of DNA damage increased in relation to the exposed enflurane concentration. However, not every lymphocyte sample showed an increased rate of DNA damage; some samples showed an increased rate even after exposure to only 0.4 vol% enflurane and other samples showed no increased rate even after exposure to 4.0 vol% enflurane. After exposure to 0.6 vol% enflurane and more the increased rate of DNA damage is statistically significant. The DNA damage in the lymphocytes differs individually. The reasons may be genetic differences in DNA repair. In patients with DNA repair deficiencies anesthesia with enflurane may induce irreversible DNA damage.