title: Epilepsy and autoimmunity in pediatric patients.
abstract: Our aim was to determine the presence and possible role of autoantibodies in epileptic patients with an undetermined etiology. Eighty epilepsy patients, who were referred to the Pediatric Neurology Department at Ankara University between November 2011 and April 2012, were enrolled in the study. Antinuclear antibodies (ANA), anticardiolipin IgG, antiphospholipid, antithyroid peroxidase, paraneoplastic, glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), and N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antibodies were studied in our university laboratory. In addition, NMDA receptor (NMDAR), voltage-gated potassium channel (VGKC)-complex, leucine-rich, glioma inactivated 1 (LGI1) and contactin-associated protein 2 (CASPR2) antibodies were studied at the Oxford University Immunology Laboratory. The study included 35 girls (44%) and 45 boys (56%) with a mean symptom age of 8.6 ± 4.53 years. ANA was detected in 15 (18.8%), antiphospholipid Ab in 3 (3.75%), anticardiolipin Ab in 1 (1.25%), and antithyroid peroxidase in 3 (3.75%) epileptic patients. In addition, anti-GAD Ab was detected in 7 (8.75%), anti-Yo Ab in 3 (3.75%), and anti-Ma2 in 3 (3.75%) epileptic patients. Anti-VGKC was positive in 13 (16.25%) epileptic patients. We performed a pioneer study to investigate the association between autoimmunity and pediatric epilepsy and we conclude that autoimmunity should be considered in epileptic patients with an undetermined etiology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Neurology, Ankara University Medical School, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ömer
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Bektaş
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Leslie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jacobson
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology and Allergy, Ankara University Medical School, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hüseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tutkak
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, Ankara University Medical School, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sema
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karagöl
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Bethan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Clover
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vincent
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Neurology, Ankara University Medical School, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gülhis
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Deda
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D020274:Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D015551:Autoimmunity; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated / Q000276:immunology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
chemical_list: D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D001323:Autoantibodies; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated