[Antinuclear antibodies and lupus induced during treatment of arterial hypertension. Role of beta-blockers and alpha-methyldopa].

Comparison of hypertensive patients receiving no treatment with subjects of the same age reveals the presence of antinuclear antibodies in twice as many of the former as the latter. Various antihypertensive drugs increase this prevalence. They may induce iatrogenic lupus. Alpha-methyldopa: the frequency of antinuclear bodies is three times greater than in untreated hypertensive patients. However there are no reported cases of clinical symptomatology of induced lupus. Beta-blockers. Practolol, acebutolol, labetalol, atenolol, timolol, metoprolol, pindolol and oxprenolol are suspected of increasing antinuclear antibodies. These drugs may be weak inducers of iatrogenic lupus when compared with major drugs: procainamide, high doses of hydralazine and D-penicillamine.