Valproate-induced immune alterations in children with focal seizures

Immunologic disorders have been noticed in epileptic patients and were attributed to either the direct effect of the disease or the effect of antiepileptic drug therapy. Published human data on the effect of sodium valproate on immunoglobulin serum levels are scarce, and results from different studies are inconsistent and sometimes conflicting. Hence, this study was conducted to evaluate the potential immune-toxic effect of sodium valproate in male children with focal epileptic seizures. Thirty healthy children, as well as 22 untreated and 27 valproate-treated children with focal seizures were enrolled in this study. The serum levels of IgA, IgM and IgG were measured in all participants using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Samples from valproate-treated epileptics were also used to assess serum sodium valproate levels. We found that valproate-treated patients had a significant reduction in the serum IgA levels compared to healthy and epileptic controls. However, significantly higher serum IgM and IgG concentrations were found in untreated patients compared with the healthy controls. Correlation analysis revealed significant negative correlation between serum IgA concentration and serum sodium valproate level. We concluded that sodium valproate therapy in epileptic children with focal seizures was associated with reduction in serum IgA levels. Serum immunoglobulins should be frequently measured in cases under long-term sodium valproate therapy. © 2013 - IOS Press and the authors. All rights reserved.