Immunoglobulin subgroups in children with febrile seizures

Background: The aim of the present study was to determine whether or not th ere was a role for immunoglobulin (Ig) or IgG subgroups in the pathogenesis of febrile seizures (FS). Methods: Serum levels of IgA, total IgG, IgM, IgE, IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgG 4 were measured in 34 children with FS and in 37 healthy children used as a control group. Both patients and controls were divided into two groups acc ording to age (group I, 6-24 months; group II, 25-72 months). Results: Compared with controls, mean IgG4 levels in patients were found to be decreased in both groups I and II (group I: 95+/-14 vs 57+/-5, respecti vely, P=0.01; group II: 178.5+/-38.5 vs 65.1+/-24.5, respectively, P <0.01) , while mean IgG2 levels were found to be decreased only in group II patien ts (170+/-16 vs 103+/-22; P <0.05). Conclusions: The results of the present study suggest that Ig subclass defi ciencies may be responsible for the infections connected with FS or that th ey may be related to the pathogenesis of FS in some children.