Immunoglobulin Abnormalities in Epileptic Patients Treated with Diphenylhydantoin

Abstract

Summary An immunologic study was made on 170 epileptic patients treated with antiepileptic drugs. The most noteworthy finding was that the serum IgA was decreased in 22 patients, and an IgA deficiency noticed in 12 of them. The blastic transformation rate of lymphocytes in PHA‐containing cultures appeared low in seven out of 12 patients. Other findings included decreased serum IgM and IgG in some patients. These abnormalities were not encountered in epileptic patients taking no anti‐epileptic drugs. Therefore, they could be considered as the side effects of antiepileptic drugs. In all patients manifesting these abnormalities, diphenylhydantoin was used in common. It was surmised that the above‐mentioned immunologic abnormalities caused by anti‐epileptic drugs, especially diphenylhydantoin, had resulted from disorders of the antibody producing organs in the bone mar‐row‐thymus‐lymphatic system.

The Influence of the Psyche and the Brain on Immunity and Disease Susceptibility: A Critical Review

“…However, there is suggestive evidence that smoking (89) and alcohol consumption (90) can impair some functions of immunity. Beyond that, many experiences like pregnancy and anesthesia (91), for example, and a wide range of drugs including chlorpromazine (92), diphenylhydantoin (93), and some antibiotics (94) may temporarily depress cellular immunity. The list of substances and circumstances which can produce immunosuppression is impressive as even a rapid perusal of the Index Medicus can attest.…”

Immunological Aspects of Epilepsy

“…Patients taking antiepileptic drugs have often lower concentrations of IgA in saliva than healthy individuals (Aarli, 1976~;Kanoh and Uchino, 1976;Yabuki and Nakaya, 1976). This finding is observed more often in children and young adults than in adults (Aarli, 1976~).…”

Immunological Variations in Epileptic Children

“…Yabuki and Nakaya [32] observed that a significant number of patients, had slightly low serum IgM level among epileptic patients on oral antiepileptic drugs. Conversely, there were also many patients, who had high IgG levels above the normal range.…”