Transient Antibody Deficiency and Abnormal T Suppressor Cells Induced by Phenytoin

Abstract

THE lack of normal B-cell differentiation in patients with acquired or congenital antibody deficiency may reflect abnormalities inherent in cells of B-lymphoid lineage or may involve abnormalities of regulatory (suppressor) cells.1 , 2 Circulating suppressor T cells, which interfere with IgM secretion in a plaque-forming-cell assay, have been found in 60 per cent of these patients, but their role in the pathogenesis of the disease is unclear.3 , 4 We observed the development of abnormal suppressor T cells and hypogammaglobulinemia in a patient receiving phenytoin (diphenylhydantoin). After the drug was withdrawn, the suppressor activity disappeared and immunoglobulin production resumed. This transient, drug-dependent expression of . . .