All issues > Volume 47(10); 2004

Original Article

Korean J Pediatr. 2004;47(10):1087-1092. Published online October 15, 2004.

The Levels of Zinc and Neuron-specific Enolase in Febrile Convulsion

Hong Sang HS Cho¹, Jun Hun JH Shin¹, Ji Yeoung JY Seo¹, Cho Ae CA Lee¹, Se Hyun SH Kim², Kyu Young KY Chae¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Pochon CHA University, Seongnam, Korea
²Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Pochon CHA University, Seongnam, Korea

Correspondence Kyu Young KY Chae ,Email: barnabas@cha.ac.kr

Abstract

Purpose
: To determine the role of zinc in febrile convulsion and to evaluate whether febrile convulsion causes neuronal damage, serum and cerebrospinal fluid(CSF), zinc and CSF neuron-specific enolase(NSE) levels were measured in patients with febrile convulsion, epilepsy and aseptic meningitis.
Methods
: Three groups were formed as follows : group I : 53 children with febrile convulsion; group II : 34 children with epilepsy; and group III, 40 children with aseptic meningitis. Serum and CSF zinc and CSF NSE levels were measured in each groups.
Results
: The serum zinc levels of groups I, II and III had a mean of 74.71?8.26 g/dL, 104.35?1.43 g/dL and 87.03?4.47 g/dL, respectively, and the values of group I were significantly lower than those of the other two groups. The CSF zinc levels of groups I, II and III were found to have a mean 27.72?7.93 g/dL, 44.73?6.72 g/dL and 54.44?8.43 g/dL, respectively. In group I, the CSF zinc levels were significantly lower than those of other two groups. The CSF NSE levels of groups I, II and III had a mean of 11.61?.96 ng/mL, 16.51?.46 ng/mL and 14.60?.02 ng/mL respectively and the values of group I were significantly lower than those of others.
Conclusion
: We confirmed that low zinc levels in serum and CSF are participants in the pathogenesis of febrile convulsion, but we could not find out the evidence of neurologic damage in patients with febrile convulsion using NSE levels in CSF.

Keywords :Febrile convulsion, Zinc, Neuron-specific enolase