Affiliations: Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Medical
Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India | Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Banaras
Hindu University, Varanasi, India
Note: [] Correspondence: Dr. Om Prakash Mishra, 12 GF, Kabir Colony, P.O.
– BHU, Varanasi – 221 005, India. Tel.: +91 542 2367654; E-mail:
[email protected]
Abstract: The exact etiopathogenesis of febrile seizures (FS) is unknown. The
present study was conducted to evaluate the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) zinc
(Zn), magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels in
children with FS. The study subjects included 20 cases of FS, 26 patients of
encephalitis and 22 children of fever with meningismus. The Zn, Mg and Cu
levels in CSF and serum were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry
and GABA was estimated by paper chromatography method. The mean CSF Zn, Mg and
Cu values were significantly decreased in FS in comparison to encephalitis and
fever with meningismus cases (P<0.05). The mean serum Zn
and Mg levels were also decreased in FS patients when compared with other two
groups (P<0.05). No significant changes were observed in
serum Cu levels among the three groups. There was no significant difference in
the mean levels of CSF and serum GABA between FS and encephalitis, but the
values were found to be significantly decreased when compared with fever with
meningismus (P<0.05). Patients of FS having higher body
temperature (>37.9°C) had
significantly decreased levels of CSF (P<0.05) and serum
GABA (P<0.01) in comparison to those having temperature of
37.2–37.8°C. Significant positive correlations were
found between CSF and serum Zn, Mg and GABA values. The CSF Zn also had
significant positive correlations with CSF Mg and GABA levels. These findings
suggest a relationship between low levels of Zn, Mg and GABA and predisposition
to FS in children.
