Ocular, systemic and antinuclear antibody changes with acebutolol

Abstract

A group of 29 hypertensive patients were studied for side effects of acebutolol. An antinuclear antibody titre of ≥1/64 developed in 23 per cent of patients during a 12-month course of treatment. Full ophthalmic examination before and after the treatment period showed a statistically significant increase in tear secretion at one year. One patient had a slight worsening of her psoriasis. No patients developed any symptoms or signs of oculomucocutaneous syndrome (OMCS) or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).