Prevalence of drug-induced immunologic changes in hypertensive Jamaicans.
Of 137 hypertensive black Jamaicans who took methyldopa for a mean period of 36 months, a positive ANA was found in 1.5% and a positive direct Coombs' test in 0.7%. In 36 patients in whom hydralazine was included in the therapeutic regimen, a positive ANA was seen in only 6%. These results suggest that in black populations, immunologic abnormalities induced by antihypertensive drugs are less common than has been reported in white patients.
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D044383:Black People; D003298:Coombs Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008750:Methyldopa / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D008750:Methyldopa