Lamotrigine hypersensitivity in childhood epilepsy
P Iannetti1, U Raucci, P Zuccaro
1Chair of Pediatrics (VII), La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
Purpose:
To evaluate the effect of lamotrigine (LTG) on several humoral and cellular immune functions in children with epilepsy and the change in immunological status in patients with LTG-induced rash.
Methods:
Sixteen children with epilepsy of unknown origin or secondary to various etiologies undergoing treatment with LTG participated in the humoral and cellular immunological study. Of these, 2 patients developed a rash during LTG treatment and are described in detail.
Results:
No modifications of humoral or cellular immunity (measured at 1 and 3 months) were noted in 14 of the 16 patients during this treatment. In the 2 children who manifested rash, basal immune function was normal. In both, immediately after the skin rash appeared, there was a high increase in the percentage of activated T-helper lymphocytes (CD4-DR) and activated T-suppressor lymphocytes (CD8-DR), a slight increase in percentage of B lymphocytes (CD19), and a greater increase in serum concentration of IgE. In 1 of the 2 patients, reevaluation of immunity 20 days after the rash appeared and after LTG suspension showed normal percentages of CD4-DR, CD8-DR, and CD19, whereas the serum concentration of IgE had decreased.
Conclusions:
The observed immunological results indicate that LTG-induced rash may be considered an immune-mediated hypersensitivity reaction.
Related Concept Videos
Antiepileptic Drugs: Sodium Channel Blockers
Sodium channel blockers modulate ion channels, particularly voltage-gated sodium channels. They block only sodium ion movement.
Among the most commonly prescribed antiepileptic drugs are...
Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators
The key GABA pathway potentiators used in epilepsy management are as follows.
Benzodiazepines are a well-known class of drugs used for their...
Antiepileptic Drugs: Glutamate Antagonists
Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein
SV2A is a transmembrane glycoprotein located predominantly in the brain, modulating the release of neurotransmitters for neuronal communication. Both levetiracetam and brivaracetam exhibit a high affinity for...
Antiepileptic Drugs: Potassium Channel Activators
Ezogabine has gained approval as an adjunctive treatment...
Epilepsy ll: Types


