Experimental Study of Aldomet‐Induced Positive Antiglobulin Reaction. I

Summary: Methyldopa polymer binds to red cells. Autologous red cells coated with polymer and polymer mixed with complete Freund's adjuvant induced heterospecific immune responses in rabbits resulting in the production of antibodies against human γ‐globulin and other plasma proteins. Therefore methyldopa polymer possibly is a heterospecific hapten. The γG bound to red cells of patients on methyldopa therapy differs from native γG and shows immunologic cross‐reactivity with rabbit γG. Two possible mechanisms for producing positive antiglobulin reaction in a large number of patients (10–20 per cent) on methyldopa and infrequent haemolytic anaemia in such patients are discussed.