Intended for healthcare professionals

Research Article

Antinuclear antibodies in patients receiving non-practolol beta-blockers.

Br Med J 1978; 1 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.1.6104.14 (Published 07 January 1978) Cite this as: Br Med J 1978;1:14
  1. J D Wilson,
  2. J Y Bullock,
  3. D C Sutherland,
  4. C Main,
  5. K P O'Brien

    Abstract

    Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) were found in 54 (7.0%) out of 767 treated hypertensive patients compared with 59 (2.4%) out of 2470 healthy controls. Inclusion of a non-practolol beta-blocker in the treatment regimen did not significantly affect the incidence of ANA. ANA was found in significantly more patients being treated with methyldopa (13.0%) than patients receiving other hypotensive agents (3.8%). Non-practolol beta-blockers in combination with methyldopa did not increase the incidence of ANA further.