Immunological study of IgA deficiency during anticonvulsant therapy in epileptic patients.

Of 10 epileptic children with IgA deficiency, one showed normal IgA synthesis and secretion on in vitro pokeweed mitogen (PWM) stimulated lymphocyte culture in contrast to IgA deficiency in vivo, two showed IgA synthesis in cytoplasm without any release of IgA into the supernatant and seven failed to synthesize IgA. Co-cultures with allogeneic T or B cells in various combinations with PWM showed intrinsic IgA-B cell defect without T cell defect in two of the second group affected at IgA secretion and in five of the third group, and intrinsic IgA-B defect with dysfunction of T cells in two of the third group. Thus, the IgA deficiency in these epileptic patients was demonstrated to be heterogenous.