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Cryptogenic Epilepsy: An Infectious Etiology?
Author(s) -
Stommel Elijah W.,
Seguin Rosanne,
Thadani Vijay M.,
Schwartzman Joseph D.,
Gilbert Karen,
Ryan Kathleen A.,
Tosteson Tor D.,
Kasper Lloyd H.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
epilepsia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.687
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1528-1167
pISSN - 0013-9580
DOI - 10.1046/j.1528-1157.2001.25500.x
Subject(s) - epilepsy , etiology , toxoplasma gondii , medicine , antibody , population , immunology , gastroenterology , psychiatry , environmental health
Summary: Purpose: Cryptogenic epilepsy, the group of epilepsy syndromes for which an etiology is unknown, comprises ∼20% of all epilepsy syndromes. We selected patients in this subgroup of epilepsy and tested them for evidence of Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibodies by the enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. T. gondii is found in up to 20% of the U.S. population forming dormant brain cysts in the latent bradyzoite form. We investigated the hypothesis that dormant T. gondii infection might be associated with cryptogenic epilepsy. Methods: We selected patients with cryptogenic epilepsies and tested them for evidence of T. gondii IgG antibodies by the enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. A control group was also tested for comparison. Results: We have found a statistically‐significant elevation of T. gondii antibodies among cryptogenic epilepsy patients as compared to controls [59% increase in optical density (OD), p = 0.013]. This association persisted after adjustment for subjects' gender and age in a multiple logistic regression model; however, it was no longer as statistically significant. Conclusions: Our results suggest that chronic T. gondii infection with brain cysts may be a cause of cryptogenic epilepsy.