Lymphocytotoxins in epileptic patients receiving phenytoin.

The present study was undertaken to determine the prevalence and nature of lymphocytotoxic antibodies in patients receiving phenytoin. Of forty-six sera examined, lymphocytotoxins and antinuclear antibodies were detected in fourteen and eleven samples respectively. Antibodies to double-stranded RNA (poly-A-poly-U) were found in six out of thirty-eight sera studied. A highly significant correlation was found between the presence of lymphocytotoxins and antinuclear antibodies (chi2 = 9.72; P less than 0.01). Lymphocytotoxins were found to be of the IgM class, to have activity against T and B cells, and to be dependent on the presence of Ca and Mg ions for activity. These findings may have pathogenetic importance in the genesis of the altered immune state of patients reveiving phenytoin.