Immunological correlates of adult onset idiopathic generalized tonic-clonic epilepsy before and after sodium valproate treatment

ABSTRACT

To investigate possible immunological humoral correlates innewly diagnosed adult-onset generalized tonic-clonic epilepsy among Iranian patients before and after sodiumvalproate treatment. 72 adult patients with newly diagnosed idiopathic generalized tonic-clonic epilepsy were recruited. Serum antinuclear antibodies [ANA], anti-cardiolipin antibodies [aCL], anti-dsDNAantibodies, total serumimmunoglobulins [IgM, IgG, IgA] and C3 and C4 complements were determined before and after 12 months of therapy with sodiumvalproate. Similar parameters were also measured in 32 age and sex-matched healthy volunteers. Patients group had a significantly greater level of IgG class aCL [30.6%versus 12.4%, P = 0.004] and anti-dsDNAantibodies [23.9%versus 0%, P = 0.001] when compared with healthy volunteers, however, ANAtitre was relatively the same in both groups. Sodiumvalproate significantly decreased anti-dsDNAantibodiles [P= 0.002], IgM concentrations [P = 0.034], and increased the number of ANApositive patients [P = 0.002]. Changes in serumlevel of autoantibodies in patients with new onset idiopathic generalized convulsion were found to be high. These abnormalities are associated with both seizure disorders per se and also antiepileptic drugs.We suggest that in epileptic patients with an autoimmune basis, administration of anti-epileptic drugs having modulatory effects on immune systemshould be considered