The possibility that the ACE inhibitors, enalapril and captopril, may decrease plasma EPO concentrations was studied in a single‐blind, cross‐ over study in 10 healthy volunteers. Plasma EPO concentrations, haemoglobin concentration, red blood cell count, plasma creatinine concentration and mean arterial pressure were measured at baseline and after 28 days treatment with both ACE inhibitors. A significant fall in mean plasma EPO concentration occurred with both ACE inhibitors and returned to baseline after stopping the drugs. It is likely that ACE inhibitors decrease EPO formation, by inhibition of angiotensin‐II production. This effect could be important in patients with renal failure, renal transplantation or other chronic conditions with an associated anaemia. Haematological parameters should be monitored in such patients when they are treated with an ACE inhibitor.

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are recognized for their support of protein metabolism. Interaction with viral proteins also enhances the development of innate and adaptive immune responses against the infecting agent. At the level of the infected cell, HSPs are uniquely expressed on the cell surface, where they represent targets of lymphokine activated killer cells. Necrosis of the infected cell releases complexes of HSP and viral protein, which, in turn, binds antigen-presenting cells (APCs). One effect of binding is to stimulate APC maturation and the release of proinflammatory cytokines, an adjuvant effect that prepares the way for adaptive immune responses. A second effect of binding is to direct the antigenic cargo of the HSP into endogenous MHC presentation pathways for priming of naive cytotoxic T cells (CTL) or activation of antigen-specific CTLs. This alternate pathway of antigen presentation is essential to CTL priming following primary brain infection. Using heat shock to elevate brain levels of HSP in a mouse model of measles virus (MV) persistent infection, we provide evidence supporting a role for HSPs in promoting cell-mediated viral clearance from brain. The findings highlight the probable relevance of HSPs to anti-MV immunity, suggesting novel routes of both therapeutic intervention and preventative measures.

Eperythrozoon suis infection was identified in a pig herd during an investigation into anaemia and low viability in newborn piglets and severe regenerative macrocytic anaemia in older piglets. The organisms were identified in the erythrocytes of piglets a few days old. Extensive investigations failed to detect other causes of the anaemia and low viability. There was no response to parenteral iron administration alone but the piglets' viability and anaemia responded to the administration of tetracyclines. This is the first report of E suis infection in Northern Ireland.

The increase in fasting insulin levels, and reduction in insulin mediated glucose uptake in this study are in contrast to findings in obese and hypertensive subjects, and indicate that studies of insulin sensitivity of ACEIs in non-obese, normotensive subjects are inappropriate for predicting likely effects in clinical practice.

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