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

Abstract

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.