Pathogenesis and Correlations of Serum and Cerebrospinal Fluid Zinc Levels in Febrile Convulsions

Lee, Joon Soo; Park, Song Hee; Coe, Chang Jun; Kim, Sung Hwan

Abstract

PURPOSE: The mechanisms underlying febrile convulsions, which have multiple etiological factors, are not yet clear. The aim of the present study was to determine whether there were any changes and correlations in serum and cerebro-spinal fluid(CSF) zinc(zn) levels and the levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-alpha), Interleukin-1beta(IL-1beta) and Interleukin-6(IL-6) in children with febrile convulsions.
METHODS
Serum and CSF zinc levels and the levels of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6 were measured in 20 children with febrile convulsions : 14 with simple febrile convulsions, 6 with complex convulsions and 20 as health controls. Zinc levels were measured by automic absorption spectrophotometry(Thermo Jarrell Ash/Smith-Hieftje 1000). The TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6 were measured by sandwich-type ELISA kit(Genzyme co.).
RESULTS
The CSF and serum zn levels of the febrile convulsion group were found to have a mean of a 58.92+/-64.85micro gram/dl, 106.5+/-64.9micro gram/dl, respectively. In the controls, the CSF and serum zn levels were a mean of a 68.66+/-43.0micro gram/dl, 109.6+/-36.9micro gram/dl, respectively. We found that the TNF-alpha were undetectable in serum and CSF of all children with febrile convulsions and control subjects.
CONCLUSION
No significant relationship was found between zinc levels of the serum and CSF and the levels of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6 in children with febrile convulsions or controls. These results do not support the hypothesis that febrile convulsions are related to reduced serum and CSF zn levels and also elevated levels of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6.