COMMENT: Ehrengut W and Ehrengut J [2] found a lack of immunoglobulins beta-2A and beta-2M and a reduction of gamma globulin in 4 of 6 patients and postulated a weakness of defense mechanisms against infection as a possible cause of febrile convulsions. This report was the first and only reference to hypoimmunoglobulinemia cited in the monograph Febrile Convulsions 1968 MacMillan, N.Y., which included a review of world literature published in English and foreign languages. Isaac et al [3] reported low serum IgA in children with febrile convulsions and Grob and Herold [4] and others have found IgA deficiency among epileptics receiving anticonvulsants, especially hydantoins (see Hafez et al).

The multifactorial inheritance of febrile seizures is alluded to in the 6th annual Merritt-Putnam Symposium [5]. Siblings have approximately a 8-12% risk of alio having febrile seizures. If the index child and one parent are affected, the risks to siblings are 30-40% (50% if both parents are affected). A high proportion of probands and their siblings develop EEG abnormalities 3-5 years after the febrile seizure, including generalized spike-and-wave and a photoconvulsive response (Hauser et al 1985; Millichap, 1968).