Autoimmunity-related immunological serum markers and survival in a tertiary care cohort of adult patients with epilepsy

We evaluated mortality in relation to a panel of autoimmunity-related immunological serum markers in adult patients with epilepsy (PWE), seen in 1996-1997 at the Department of Neurology, Oulu University Hospital in Finland. Blood samples were drawn from 968 volunteers, and baseline measurements included serum immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, and IgM), and the following antibodies: anticardiolipin, antinuclear, antimitochondrial, antigliadin (IgA and IgG classes), IgA tissue transglutaminase, and IgA endomysial. Hazard ratios (HR) for all-cause mortality in PWE with abnormal immunological markers relative to 413 patients with normal findings were evaluated with adjustment for confounders during a follow-up of nine years. Borderline statistically significant associations were found only for elevated IgA (HR 2.09, 95% CI 0.99-4.42) and for having two or more abnormal antibody titers (HR 1.58, 95% CI 0.98-2.56). The findings of this exploratory study suggested that elevated serum IgA might be associated with excess mortality in PWE.