Autoimmunity and epilepsy in children

Objective of this paper is to investigate whether autoantibodies are present in a cluster of patients with epilepsy. In 3 out of 88 epileptic patients, in whom no metabolic, bacterial, viral or malformative origin war demonstrated, the Authors showed the presence of antibodies to thyroid microsomes in 2, to nucleus (ANA) in 2, to glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) in 1, to transglutaminase in 1. In 2, reduced seizures by immunomodulant therapy were observed. The autoantibodies may have played a role in the pathogenesis of epilepsy, as demonstrated by positive result of the immunomodulant therapy. On the basis of the result the Authors suggest the need to search autoimmunity in ever case of epilepsy.