Phenytoin-induced IgA depression
M. E. Ruff, L. G. Pincus and H. A. Sampson
In a survey of 1011 pediatric patients with seizure disorders, 93 children
(9.2%) were found to have depressed serum IgA concentrations when compared
with age-matched controls; 27 of these values were less than 0.1 g/L (less
than 10 mg/dL). Two thirds (64/93) of these patients were being treated
with phenytoin, and ten had been previously treated with phenytoin. No
relationship between IgA deficiency and serum phenytoin concentration nor
use of other anticonvulsant medications was found. The prevalence of
phenytoin-induced IgA depression was similar in patients with "primary" or
"secondary" seizure disorders. Approximately 40% of the patients with low
serum IgA concentrations had mild to moderate depression of serum IgG
and/or IgM concentrations when compared with age-matched controls.
