Haematological changes in experimental hydralazine-induced collagen-like syndrome in guinea pigs.

Haematological studies were carried out in hydralazine-induced collagen-like syndrome in guinea pigs. 37.5 per cent of animals were found to be LE-positive. It was found that long-term administration of hydralazine caused a decrease of erythrocyte count, a decrease of haemoglobin concentration and a decrease of haemoglobin content in individual red blood cell as well as a decrease of a single erythrocyte volume. A significant leukopenia was shown in LE-positive subgroup of hydralazine-treated guinea pigs. The obtained results confirmed the similarity of hydralazine syndrome to systemic lupus erythematosus.