title: Effects of cetirizine dihydrochloride on human lymphocytes in vitro: evaluation of chromosome aberrations and sister chromatid exchanges.
abstract: The ability of cetirizine dihydrochloride, an antihistaminic agent, to induce chromosome aberrations as well as sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) was evaluated in human lymphocyte cultures treated in vitro. The following concentrations were tested: 25, 50, 75, 100 and 200 micrograms/ml. The results of our study revealed that cetirizine dihydrochloride is capable of inducing chromosome aberrations, at least at the higher concentrations studied, 100 and 200 micrograms/ml. The majority of aberrations was of chromatid type. Cetirizine is also a weak inducer of SCEs. Further studies are now warranted in order to define the in vivo cytogenetic activity of cetirizine in humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Patras, Greece.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vlastos
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stephanou
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Demopoulos
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017332:Cetirizine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D012016:Reference Values; D012854:Sister Chromatid Exchange / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D017332:Cetirizine