Autoimmunity in patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy and febrile convulsion

There is increasing evidence that autoimmune mechanisms may have a role in etiology of patients with epilepsy and febrile convulsion (FC). Although there have been studies on autoimmune research in epileptic patients, there is no similar study in patients with newly diagnosed FC. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the relationship of autoimmunity with epilepsy and FC.32 patients and 16 healthy children were included in the study. Anti Glutamate NMDA receptor, Anti-GAD and Anti-Ganglioside antibody (GM1, GM2, GM3, GD1a, GD1b, GT1b, GQ1b) levels were measured.Anti-Ganglioside antibodies were positive in approximately one third of the patients (34.4%, 11/32). Compared with the control group (18.8%, 3/16), this ratio was determined 43.8% in epilepsy group (7/16, p>0.05) and 25% in FS group (4/16, p> 0.05). Mean age (36.6±37 months) of autoantibody-positive patients (11/32, 34.3%) was detected significantly lower than mean age (67.9±47.4 months) of patients with negative results (21/32, 65.6%). These values were significantly lower in patients with epilepsy too (mean age of autoantibody-positive patients: 43.7±45.8 months, mean age of autoantibody-negative patients: 112±36.5 months, p<0.05). Rate of Anti-Ganglioside GT1b was highest in epilepsy group (37.5%, n=6/16, p>0.05). The rates were decreasing steadily in FC (25%, n=4/16, p>0.05) and the control group (18.8%, n=3/16, p>0.05). In addition, EEG positivity was significant in all four FC patients with positivity of Anti-Ganglioside GT1b (simple FC: 3/3, complex FC: 1/1, p<0.05). In the epilepsy group, these positivities were not significant (generalized: 2/2, focal: 3/4, P>0.05).As a result of this study, positivity for autoantibodies in patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy and FC, may be stimulating in terms of risk of epilepsy and persistent EEG. And also autoantibody positivity was determined to be associated with young patient age.