1985 Volume 17 Issue 5 Pages 412-419
To investigate the immunological process involved in the pathogenesis of epilepsy, we performed renal biopsies and EEG recordings on 3 cases of immune complex glomerulonephritis and speculated on brain lesions associated with renal lesions.
The case of nephrotic purpura nephrites (Case 1) showed high voltage slow waves on EEG, which were exacerbated by injection of a high dose gamma globulin with Fc segment. But this paroxysmal discharge disappeared after pulse therapy without clinical attacks. Cases of post-streptcoccal subacute glomerulonephritis (Case 2) and membrano-proliferative glomerulonephritis (Case 3) showed only slowing of the background activity. The histological lesion was found mainly in the mesangial region in Case 1 but the basement membrane was invloved markedly in Cases 2 and 3.
In Cases 1 and 2 with treatment at the early period of the illness, the amount of urinary protein decreased gradually. But Case 3 receiving immunological treatment later in the course of illness showed the increase of the amount of urinary protein by the treatment.
Based on preceding 3 cases, we speculated the possibility that the concept of immune complex explain the pathogenesis of paroxysmal discharge and clinical attacks and the variable effects of gamma globulin with Fc segment on epilepsy as well as on nephritis.
