Immunological Side-Effects of Anticonvulsants

Delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity in children with severe multiple handicaps treated with phenytoin

“…This finding is compatible with those previously observed by Seager (1976) and ourselves (Higashi et al, 1976). In contrast, there have been several reports showing decreased total lymphocyte or T-cell populations in adults and children treated with phenytoin (Massimo et al, 1976;Brandt and Nilsson, 1976;Shibuya et al, 1976).…”

Immunological abnormalities and HLA antigen frequencies in IgA deficient patients with epilepsy.

“…Half of our patients showed diminished values. Low levels of circulating T-cells were reported in 14 of 48 epileptic children with normal serum IgA concentration and diminished phytohaemagglutinin-lymphocyte stimulation was found in 41 of these patients (Massimo et al, 1976). In most of the patients without an associated seizure disorder no T-cell defect was observed (Buckley, 1975;Delespesse et al, 1976).…”

“…Low serum levels of IgA were most often described (Sorrell et al, 1971;Grob and Herold, 1972;Slavin et al, 1974;Aarli and Tonder, 1975;Buckley, 1975;Seager et al, 1975;Aarli, 1976;Kanoh and Uchino, 1976;Masi et al, 1976;Andersen and Mosekilde, 1977). Immune reactions dependent on T-lymphocytes have also been shown to be abnormal in some epileptic patients as evidenced by absent delayed-type skin tests to various ubiquitous antigens, diminished lymphocyte stimulation by plant mitogens, and a decrease of circulating T cells (Sorrell et al, 1971;Massimo et al, 1976). There are still many questions to be answered, such as whether only certain forms or stages of epilepsy are associated with immunodeficiencies, or whether anticonvulsant drugs especially hydantoins, are mainly responsible for, or at least add to the genesis of, the immunity abnormalities.…”

Respiratory Disease in Patients with Epilepsy on Single-Drug Therapy with Carbamazepine or Phenobarbital

“…The IgA, IgG and IgM concentrations were within the normal range in 10 children on phénobar bital monotherapy [Massimo et al" 1976], This study shows that patients on carba mazepine or phénobarbital do not have re spiratory disease more often than healthy control individuals. This contrasts with what was previously demonstrated for phenytointreated patients with epilepsy in a similar study.…”