[Gm allotype HLA antigens and T lymphocyte sub-populations in a group of patients having a positive Coombs test under treatment with alpha-methyldopa].
We analysed HLA-A, B, DR antigens and Gm allotypes in 45 Caucasian patients treated by alpha methyl dopa. 30 had a positive antiglobulin direct Coombs test of the pure IgG type and 15 showed no erythrocyte antibody. We found no difference in the HLA and Gm gene frequencies between the 2 patient groups and the normal control group (nb 104). Furthermore we appreciated the T cell subsets in 11 Coombs positive patients. They showed an increase of the helper/suppressor T cell ratio, due to a significant decrease of the suppressor T cell subset. These data are compatible with Kirtland findings which demonstrated a methyl dopa inhibition of suppressor lymphocyte function. However they do not support the hypothesis that genetic factors may have a role in the susceptibility of patients to methyl dopa induced suppressor-cell disfunction.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D003298:Coombs Test; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007126:Immunoglobulin Allotypes / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008750:Methyldopa / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D006680:HLA Antigens; D007126:Immunoglobulin Allotypes; D008750:Methyldopa
Etude des antigènes HLA, des allotypes Gm et des sous populations lymphocytaires T chez un groupe de malades ayant un test de Coombs positif sous traitement à l'alpha méthyldopa.