[Non-specific immunologic reactivity in epilepsy]

Humoral and cell-mediated immunity was determined in 28 epileptics, in 22 patients observed and investigated because of an only one seizure, and 26 healthy controls. Anticonvulsants had not been used in the treatment of these cases up to that time. The total lymphocyte count and the count of lymphocytes forming spontaneously rosettes with sheep erythrocytes were found to be significantly lower in the group of patients with epilepsy of unknown aetiology in relation to controls. The quantitative changes in the composition of the lymphocyte population were not significant and caused, probably, no immunological deficit, but were only a reaction to organic damage to the nervous system. Slight disturbances in the functions of the immune system cannot be, however, ruled out since this group showed also a significantly higher IgG level which suggests long-standing antigenic stimulation. No defect in IgA synthesis and disorders of the cell-mediated immunity (blastic transformation test, leucocyte migration inhibition test, skin test) were demonstrated in this study, although they had been reported by some authors in cases of epilepsy, mainly, however, in patients treated with anticonvulsants. In the patients having started anticonvulsive treatment these investigations will be repeated for establishing the effect of drugs on the immune reactions.