Evaluation of Ribavirin Genotoxicity with Sister Chromatid Exchange and Micronuclei Assays in Humans

Aim: The main objective of this study was to assess the genotoxicity of ribavirin in 15 patients who were suffering from Crimean–Congo haemorrhagic fever and treated with the therapy dose of the antiviral agent. Materials and Methods: Genotoxicity was evaluated using the cytokinesis-blocked micronucleus (MN) and sister chromatid exchange (SCE) assays in lymphocyte cultures that were prepared from blood sample scollected from the 15 patients. The blood samples were taken on day 9 of a 10-day the rapeutic regimen of ribavirin and 1 month after the cessation of therapy. Results: In all patients, the frequency of sister chromatid exchanges and the formation of micronuclei were significantly higher in the lymphocytes of blood samples that were taken in day 9 of the therapy compared to those that were collected 1 month after the cessation of therapy. In addition, on day 9, SCE and MN values were statistically different from the values of no-ribavirin control group. Conclusions: These results showed that ribavirin has a reversible genotoxic effect in humans and this effect could be due to toxic metabolites of ribavirin.