Practolol and ocular toxicity. Antibodies in serum and tears

Serological studies in 22 patients presenting with ocular disease attributable to dosage with the beta-blocking agent practolol revealed a raised incidence of antinuclear antibodies. There was also a marginal increase in the incidence of antibodies to smooth muscle in the more severely affected individuals but the incidence of ther autoantibodies and levels of IgG, IgA, and IgM were within normal limits. Semi-quantitative analysis of tears from 14 of the patients showed absence or near absence in the more severely affected patients of secretory IgA, which is indicative of damage to the lacrimal gland. Other immunological parameters in the tears were normal.