IgG subclasses in epileptic patients treated with phenytoin.

IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4 serum concentrations were determined in 49 phenytoin-treated epileptic patients and in 19 untreated epileptic controls, using subclass-specific monoclonal antibodies in an ELISA technique. The IgG3 and IgG4 concentrations were significantly reduced in patients with IgA deficiency ( P<0.05, P<0.01 respectively). In contrast, IgG4 was elevated in the patients in whom phenytoin did not induce an IgA deficiency ( P<0.05). IgG1 and IgG2 concentrations did not differ in phenytoin-treated and untreated epileptic patients. IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4 did not change after withdrawal of phenytoin. IgG subclass concentrations were not significantly correlated with frequency of respiratory tract infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]