Ann Lab Med.  2012 May;32(3):190-193. 10.3343/alm.2012.32.3.190.

Comparison of Serum Zinc Levels Measured by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry in Preschool Children with Febrile and Afebrile Seizures

• Lee JH
• Kim JH

• KMID: 1381683
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3343/alm.2012.32.3.190

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Changes in levels of trace elements have been proposed to underlie febrile seizures. Particularly, low zinc levels have been proposed as related factor of febrile seizure. In this study, we investigated whether mean serum zinc levels differed between children with febrile seizure and afebrile seizure.
METHODS
Using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, serum zinc levels were measured in 288 children who had been diagnosed with febrile seizures (N=248) and afebrile seizures (N=40). Mean serum zinc levels were compared between the 2 groups.
RESULTS
Mean serum zinc level was 60.5+/-12.7 microg/dL in the febrile seizure group and 68.9 +/-14.5 microg/dL in the afebrile seizure group. A significant difference in serum zinc levels was observed between the febrile and afebrile seizure groups (P<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
Zinc levels in children with febrile seizure were significantly lower than those in children with afebrile seizure.

Keyword

Zinc; Febrile seizure; Mass spectrometry

MeSH Terms

Child, Preschool
Female
Humans
Infant
Male
*Mass Spectrometry
Seizures/blood/*diagnosis
Seizures, Febrile/blood/*diagnosis
Zinc/*blood

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Comparison of serum zinc levels in children with febrile seizures and afebrile seizures. Mean serum zinc levels in the febrile seizure and afebrile seizure groups were 60.5±12.7 µg/dL and 68.9±14.5 µg/dL, respectively. Mean serum zinc levels were significantly different between these groups, according to an independent t-test (P<0.001).

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