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HLA antigens, epilepsy and cytomegalovirus infection
P Iannetti1, M Morellini, U Raucci
1Department of Pediatrics, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
Abstract:
Thirty-one epileptic patients, selected from among 900 children with previous febrile convulsions and subsequent epilepsy, were typed for HLA antigens. In 16 of the 31 patients CMV was isolated from the urine shortly after the appearance of spontaneous fits; in the remaining 15 patients the virus was never detected. All the examined children were typed for 14 HLA-A, 23 HLA-B, 7 HLA-C and 9 HLA-DR specificities, and compared with a group of healthy subjects. The HLA-A11 antigen was present in 25% of the children with chronic CMV infection and epilepsy, and absent in patients with epilepsy but without CMV infection (p less than 0.02). The possibility that the A11 antigen is a marker of the predisposing genes for CMV infection in children with epilepsy following FC is proposed.
Insights
Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) A11 antigen may indicate a genetic predisposition to Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in epileptic children. This finding could aid in understanding epilepsy development after febrile convulsions.
Area of Science:
- Immunogenetics
- Neurology
- Virology
Background:
- Epilepsy following febrile convulsions (FC) can be linked to infections.
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a potential factor in the development of epilepsy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) types and Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in children with epilepsy.
- To determine if specific HLA antigens are markers for CMV susceptibility in this patient group.
Main Methods:
- HLA typing was performed on 31 epileptic children with a history of FC.
- CMV presence in urine was assessed in these patients.
- HLA antigen frequencies were compared between children with and without CMV infection, and with healthy controls.
Main Results:
- The HLA-A11 antigen was significantly more prevalent (25%) in epileptic children with chronic CMV infection compared to those without CMV (p < 0.02).
- HLA-A11 was absent in epileptic patients without detectable CMV infection.
Conclusions:
- The HLA-A11 antigen may serve as a genetic marker for predisposition to CMV infection in children with epilepsy following febrile convulsions.
- Further research is warranted to explore the role of HLA-A11 in the pathogenesis of CMV-associated epilepsy.