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Serologic Abnormalities Associated with L‐Dopa Therapy 1
Author(s) -
Henry R. E.,
Goldberg L. S.,
Sturgeon P.,
Ansel R. D.
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
vox sanguinis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.68
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1423-0410
pISSN - 0042-9007
DOI - 10.1111/j.1423-0410.1971.tb00448.x
Subject(s) - titer , anti nuclear antibody , autoantibody , medicine , serology , coombs test , antibody , gastroenterology , immunology , pathology
. Eighty patients with Parkinson's disease participating in a drug trial of L‐dopa were studied prospectively for the development of antierythrocyte, antinuclear, and antiglobulin activities. The median age of the group was 65 years; and the median dose of L‐dopa was 4 g/day. Five of the 80 patients developed positive red cell antiglobulin tests after 8 to 11 months of therapy. Three of these had IgG only on their red cells; eluates prepared from these cells reacted strongly with all except Rh null erythrocytes, suggesting Rh specificity. Complement only was detected on the cells of the other 2 patients. One of the 5 individuals with positive erythrocyte antiglobulin tests became anemic. Significant titers of antinuclear antibody appeared in 9 patients and significant increases in titers of serum antiglobulins were found in 9 patients, 2 of whom also had a positive ANA test. These results indicate that administration of L‐dopa is associated with induction of a variety of autoantibodies. The mechanism responsible for this phenomenon is unknown.