Serum Selenium and Copper Levels in Children with Simple Febrile Seizure and Viral Infections

Abstract

ÖZETAmaç: Sağlıklı bir sinir sistemi için eser elementler son derece önemlidir. Eser elementlerin düzeyi viral enfeksiyonlar ve ateşli nöbetler sırasında değişiklik gösterir. Bu çalışmanın amacı febril nöbet ve viral enfeksiyonu olan çocukların serum selenyum ve bakır düzeylerini belirlemektir.Gereç yöntem: Basit febril konvülziyon geçiren ve viral enfeksiyonu saptanan 40 çocuk çalışmaya alındı. Kontrol grubu olarak ise ateşi ve viral enfeksiyonu olup nöbet geçirmeyen 40 çocuk seçildi. Her iki gruptan alınan serum örnekleri ölçüldü ve karşılaştırıldı.Bulgular: Basit febril konvülziyon grubunda serum selenyum düzeyleri istatistiksel anlamlı olarak düşük bulundu( p=0.043). Selenyum ve bakır düzeyleri ile yaş, cinsiyet, vücut kitle indeksi, nöbet süresi ve ateş yüksekliği arasında ilişki saptanmadı.Sonuç: Basit febril konvülziyon geçiren çocuklarda selenyum düzeyinin düşük olması oksidatif hasar ve antioksidan savunma mekanizmalarının aktifleşmesine bağlı olabilir. Selenyum düzeyindeki anlamlı düşüklük febril nöbetleri başlatabileceği gibi nöbetin tekrarlamasına da neden olabilir. Basit ve tekrarlayan febril nöbetlerde selenyum düzeyini araştıran çalışmalara ihtiyaç vardır.Anahtar kelimeler: Febril konvülziyon, selenyum, bakır, çocuk ABSTRACT Purpose: Trace elements are essential for a healthy nervous system. Their levels are shown to be affected in both viral infections and febrile seizures. The aim of this study is to evaluate the serum selenium and copper levels in children with febrile seizures and viral infection.Method: This study consisted of 40 patients with simple febrile seizures and viral infection (study group) and 40 patients with fever and viral infection (control group). Serum samples were collected for selenium and copper from the study group within one hour following seizure. The serum samples were measured and compared.Results: Serum selenium levels were significantly lower in the simple febrile seizure group (p=0.043). There was no significant relation between selenium and copper levels with age, sex, body mass index, degree of fever or duration of febrile seizure.Conclusion: Significantly decreased levels of selenium in children with simple febrile seizures may be the result of oxidative damage and the activation of antioxidant defense mechanisms. The lower serum levels of selenium in patients with SFS may trigger FS or may contribute to its recurrence. Further studies are required to assess selenium levels comparing simple and recurrent febrile seizures.

Serum Copper Level among Children with Simple Febrile Seizures

“…On the contrary; no significant change in the serum Cu level was found in patients with FS in the other studies (12,21) . Balci and Yılmaz (13) showed no significant difference in the serum Cu levels between the SFS group and the control group. Also, Aly et al (22) found that the median serum Cu level in cases with febrile convulsions was non significantly higher than in controls.…”

“…Cu is an important element for the function of the nervous system (NS) as Cu is important for normal brain development. Many researchers found that deficiency and excess may cause NS complications and convulsions (11)(12)(13)(14) . There is few published research on the level of cupper in SFS and few compare it to febrile illness with no seizures.…”

Association between serum selenium levels and febrile seizures in Indian children: a case control study

“…This is similar to a study done by Balci O and Yelmaz D, which also showed no significant co-relation. 9 Production of reactive oxygen species and neuronal damage is one of the hypotheses postulated for causation of febrile seizures in selenium deficient children. Results of the present study indicate a significant correlation between selenium deficiency and febrile seizures.…”