Background: The purpose of research was to determine the level of natural neurotropic autoantibodies in blood serum of patients with idiopathic and symptomatic epilepsies.
Patients and methods: 43 epilepsy patients (27 males and 16 females) at the age of from 16 till 70 years (average age 43.1 ± 1.02 years) were studied--11 patients with idiopathic epilepsy (group I) and 32 patients with symptomatic epilepsy (group II). By the method of immunoenzymatic analysis and original idiotype-antiidiotype test-system ELI-N-Test (Russia) in blood serum of the patients the levels of autoantibodies (aAB) to brain proteins-antigens (NF-200, GFAP, MBP and S100β) and to receptors of neuromediators (glutamate, GABA, dopamine, serotonin and choline-receptors) we determined.
Results: All groups of epilepsy patients differed from control group by as individual levels, as degree of deviations of the studied immunological parameters. Serum levels of neurotropic aAB to NF-200, GFAP, MBP and S100β, as well as to receptors of neuromediators (glutamate, GABA, dopamine, serotonin and choline-receptors) were noted to increase. The features of immune disturbances depended on the form and severity of epilepsy.
Conclusion: Autoimmune processes have the certain place in the pathogenesis of epilepsy. The degree and duration of increase in the levels of neurotropic aAB have the prognostic significance for the evaluation severity degree of epilepsy course that could be an additional criterion in the integrated diagnosis and timely correction of treatment for epilepsy.