Cardiolipin and β2-Glycoprotein I antibodies associate with cognitive impairment and seizure frequency in developmental disorders

Cardiolipin (CL) and β(2)-Glycoprotein I (β(2)-GpI) antibodies have been shown to associate with various neurological symptoms including seizures and cognitive dysfunction. Here we studied the prevalence of CL, β(2)-GpI and antinuclear (ANA) antibodies in 74 patients with various developmental disorders with epilepsy and 70 healthy controls. Developmental disorders were classified into genetic syndromes and diseases, genetic and/or acquired conditions, cortical dysgenesias and acquired encephalopathias. IgM-CL and β(2)-GpI antibodies were significantly more common in patients (46% vs. 20%, p<0.001 and 10% vs. 0%, p<0.05). Patients with most frequent seizures were more likely to have IgM-CL antibodies. The risk for positive IgM-CL, IgG-CL and β(2)-GpI antibodies increased concomitantly with increasing intellectual disability. Present data demonstrates that epilepsy with frequently recurring seizures may be associated with secondary immune system activation.