Abstract
In order to investigate the in vivo effects of anticonvulsants on the immune system, the pro-portion of T and B-cells in the circulating lym-phocytes and serm immunoglobulin levels were determined in 36 severely handicapped children on anticonvulsants for more than 6 years, and were compared with those of 28 patients who were not treated by anticonvulsants.
Percentages and the number of T-cells were significantly reduced in the treated group as compared with the control group. The number of B-cells was not changed. The low lymphocyte counts observed in the treated group were con-tributed by the reduction of T-cells. There was no significant correlation between the percentage of T-cells and the duration of anticonvulsant therapy.
There was no difference in the number of gra-nulocytes and serum immunoglobulin levels bet-ween the two groups.
