Impaired Reticuloendothelial Function in Patients Treated with Methyldopa

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  • JKJohn G. Kelton
    John G. Kelton
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Abstract
In about 20 per cent of patients taking the antihypertensive agent methyldopa, IgG autoantibodies form against red cells, but most such patients do not have hemolysis. The reason for this is uncertain; it does not appear to be explained by known characteristics of the autoantibody. Since antibody-dependent reticuloendothelial function is an important determinant of cell clearance, we measured reticuloendothelial function in nine patients taking methyldopa. We did this by measuring the rate of clearance of Radio-labeled autologous red cells sensitized with anti-D alloantibody. Five patients had a positive direct antiglobulin test, and four did not. Only one patient had laboratory evidence of hemolysis. The patients without hemolysis had significantly impaired reticuloendothelial clearance. In contrast, the patient with hemolysis did not have impaired reticuloendothelial function.

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