title: Patients with generalised epilepsy have a higher white blood cell count than patients with focal epilepsy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Immunological alterations have been noted following seizures in the acute period, however little is known about the effect of type and severity of epilepsy on leukocyte count in the absence of seizures.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective chart review of adult epilepsy patients presenting for evaluation over a four-month period. Demographics, epilepsy type and characteristics, number and type of antiepileptic drugs, as well as medical co-morbidities were noted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 241 patients fulfilled study criteria. Variables correlating with leukocyte count were identified using univariate analysis. Based on multivariate analysis, only the correlation with type of epilepsy and use of more than two antiepileptic drugs remained statistically significant. Patients with generalised epilepsy had a higher leukocyte count (7.21 k/μL) compared to those with focal epilepsy (6.53 k/μL); the main difference was due to the number of monocytes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings raise the possibility that there are different neuro-immune profiles between patients with generalised and focal epilepsy.
authors.affiliation: Epilepsy Center/Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic. rani_sa@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Rani A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Sarkis
authors.forename: Lara
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jehi
authors.forename: Diosely
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Silveira
authors.forename: Damir
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Janigro
authors.forename: Imad
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Najm
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D004829:Epilepsy, Generalized / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants