INCIDENCE OF POSITIVE COOMBS' TEST, LE CELLS AND ANTINUCLEAR FACTOR IN PATIENTS ON ALPHA‐METHYLDOPA (“ALDOMET”) THERAPY

Ninety‐eight hypertensive patients on alpha‐ methyldopa (“Aldomet”) therapy were investigated. In 26 cases a direct Coombs' test gave a positive result. In many cases this occurred only after several years of therapy. All patients were tested several times over a period of years, and in a few cases the positive result to the direct Coombs' test appeared to be only transitory. No apparent correlation between total dose of “Aldomet” and Coombs' positivity was found. However, the incidence of positive reactions was higher in patients receiving more than 2.25 gm per day. In every case tests were also carried out for the presence of the LE cell phenomenon and antinuclear factor. Five subjects showed a positive reaction for the former and 11 for the latter. Several other serological investigations produced no significant results.