Final answer:
The statement that certain drugs, such as α-methyldopa, can induce the production of autoantibodies against RBCs leading to IgG-mediated hemolytic anemia, is true. This condition is a Type II hypersensitivity reaction where autoantibodies result in the destruction of the body's own RBCs.
Step-by-step explanation:
True or False: Certain drugs (e.g. α-methyldopa) induce production of autoantibodies against RBCs (IgG-mediated hemolytic anemia). The answer to this question is true. Some drugs, including α-methyldopa, can induce the production of autoantibodies that target the body's own red blood cells (RBCs), leading to a type of hemolytic anemia.
This condition occurs when these autoantibodies bind to the RBCs and mark them for destruction, typically through a process involving the IgG subclass of antibodies and the activation of the complementary system. The result is an IgG-mediated hemolytic anemia, which is classified as a Type II hypersensitivity reaction.
In a Type II hypersensitivity reaction, the antibodies produced (in this case, by the influence of a drug like α-methyldopa) bind to antigens on the surface of cells, leading to their damage or destruction. This is distinct from, for example, Type III hypersensitivity, which involves immune complex formation that can lead to inflammation and tissue damage. IgG-mediated hemolytic anemia induced by drugs like α-methyldopa is one such example of an adverse drug reaction that engages the immune system in an autoimmune attack against the body's own cells.