[Antibodies against nicotine-like acetylcholine receptors of central nervous system and muscles in epileptics with IgA deficiency].

Anti-muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAR) antibodies were sought in epileptic patients without clinical signs of myasthenia gravis. Low titers of such antibodies were found in 3 cases characterized by primary generalized seizures, IgA deficiency and HLA A1 and B8 antigens. These three patients also had anti-brain nAR antibodies. In the serum of one patient with myasthenia gravis, anti-brain nAR antibodies were also detected. The titer was low despite a high titer of anti-muscle nAR antibodies. This may reflect the fact that the immune reaction in the three epileptic patients is primarily directed against the brain nAR.