[Epileptic seizures and immune disorders].

Unlabelled: The links of epileptic seizures with febrile diseases, as well as with common infections are generally known. Similarly, physicians are aware of the coincidence of epileptic activity with immunity disturbances, as well as of the effects of the antiepileptic drug phenytoin on the immunity system. Disturbances of immunity are commonly reported in 30% of the population. Our clinic is a consilliary regional centre for torpid epilepsies and sleep defects. The aim of study is to document the occurrence of immunity disturbances in unsuccessfully treated patients (5-25 years of age) with generalised convulsive epilepsy (GENKONV-GK) in a group containing 50 patients, and with partial epilepsy with complex symptomatology (PARTKOMP-PK) in a group containing 75 patients. At the same time, this studys objective resided in seeking evidence of the positive effect of immunomodulatory therapy. In all patients, the basic diagnosis had been stated in coincidence with the origin of epilepsy during hospitalisation in neurologic wards. In 1993-1995 our clinic supplemented the electrodiagnosis by a series of routine EEG which was focused at the recurrence of the disease. As a rule, each of the patients was subdued to a 24-hour EEG monitoring on the 12-canal apparatus. Individual supplementation by CT, MR and USG of the brain, the arrangement of anti-epileptic therapy and basic immunological examination were made during the first year of investigation. Still, after the stabilisation of anti-epileptic therapy (monitoring) and indicated immunomodulatory therapy was added.
Results: The immunologic examination was negative in 4 patients, all being members of GENKONV group. Atopy was found in 56% of GK group, and in 65% of PK group. Disturbances of specific cellular immunity were revealed in 80% of the patients of the GK group, and in 85% of PK group. The signs of inflammatory activity and other signs of allergy were present to a lesser extent.
Conclusions: Out of the amount of 125 patients only 3.2% yielded no disturbances of immunity. The application of immunomodulatory therapy appears to represent a promising supplementary-stabilisation therapy. (Tab. 2, Fig. 4, Ref. 5.)