Affiliations: Department of Pediatrics, Ain Shams University, Cairo,
Egypt | Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Neurology Unit,
Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt | Department of Psychiatry, Beni-Suef University,
Beni-Suef City, Egypt | Department of Psychiatry, Ain Shams University, Cairo,
Egypt | National Centre for Radiation Research and Technology,
Cairo, Egypt
Abstract: Accumulating evidence supports the hypothesis that epilepsy is
mediated by oxidative stress, studies about psychopathology in children
indicates that children with epilepsy are at increased risk for
psychopathology, including internalizing and externalizing behavior problems.
The aim of the work is to study the child psychopathology and the level of
oxidative stress in newly diagnosed children with epilepsy. Eighty-four newly
diagnosed children with epilepsy with their ages ranging from 4 yr to 17 yr
(mean 8.62 ± 3.79 yr) and 42 age and sex matched healthy
control children were recruited. All cases are subject to full neurologic
assessment, child behavioral checklist, and measurement of the levels of
oxidative stress enzymes. Anxiety withdrawal, psychotic behavior and motor
excess hyperactivity are statistically significantlty more in children with
newly diagnosed epilepsy (P < 0.05). There were high
level of malondialdehyde and nitrite while the level of both glutathione
peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase were low for newly diagnosed
children with epilepsy versus control (P=0.000). The state of imbalance of
oxidative stress enzymes has important role in seizure development and also
associated psychopathology. Long-term follow up studies are needed for child
psychopathology and oxidative stress in epileptic children.
Keywords: Psychopathology, oxidative stress, epilepsy, children
