Alterations of cell-mediated immune response in children with febrile seizures

ABSTRACT

The aim of the present investigation was to study the distribution of T-cell subsets in peripheral blood defined monoclonal antibodies and by the lymphocyte proliferative response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) in 30 children febrile seizures and in 14 age-matched control subjects. Frequent respiratory, urinary and dermatologic infections were observed in 22 patients. The immunologic parameters showed that 64 percent of the patients presented an increases number of CD8+ cells and a low helper/suppressor ratio was observed in 60 percent of the patients. In addition, the proliferative response of lymphocytes to PHA was impared in the patients. It was observed the presence of inhibitory activity on lymphocyte function in the plasma of 33 percent of children with febrile seizures. These results suggest that patients with febrile seizures have an impairment of cellular immunity that may be connected with this epileptic syndrome and explain the infections observed.