%0 Journal Article
%T Occult Autoimmune Background for Epilepsy-The Preliminary Study on Antibodies Against Neuronal Surface Antigens.
%A Dziadkowiak E
%A Moreira H
%A Buska-Mach K
%A Szmyrka M
%A Budrewicz S
%A Barg E
%A Janik M
%A Pokryszko-Dragan A
%J Front Neurol
%V 12
%N 0
%D 2021
%M 34744955
%F 4.086
%R 10.3389/fneur.2021.660126
%X Objective: The objective of the study was to determine the incidence of antibodies against neuronal surface antigens (NSA-ab) in patients with different types of epilepsy, in comparison with the subjects diagnosed with immune-mediated disorders. Methods: Forty patients with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) of unknown origin, 16 with post-stroke epilepsy, and 23 with systemic autoimmune disorders (SAD) with CNS involvement were included. NSA-ab were sought in serum using indirect immunofluorescence method. Relationships were analyzed between presence of NSA-ab and clinical presentation. Results: NSA-ab was detected in the sera from five patients: anti-DPPX in one patient, anti-AMPAR1/R2 in two, anti-LGI1 in one and, in one case, both anti-CASPR2 and DPPX IgG. Out of these five patients, three represented the SAD subgroup and two the DRE subgroup. None of the patients with post-stroke epilepsy was positive for NSA-ab. Significance: Autoimmune etiology is worth considering in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy of unknown origin. The presence of NSA-ab in patients with systemic autoimmune disorders may be caused by unspecifically enhanced autoimmune reactivity. NSA-ab seem not to be related to epilepsy resulting from ischemic brain injury.