Neuron-Specific Enolase Levels of Serum and Cerebrospinal Fluid in Children with Febrile Seizure / 대한소아신경학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Neuron-specific enolase(NSE) has been established as a reliable marker of neuronal damage in various neurologic disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether febrile seizure cause brain damage, based on the serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of NSE. METHODS: Twenty-one pateints were enrolled. The maximal seizure duration was 90 mins. Blood and CSF samples for the measurement of NSE were obtained immediately after the seizure. NSE was measured using an immunoradiometric assay(IRMA). RESULTS: The CSF NSE level of the febrile seizure group was 11.7+/-2.04 ng/mL and that of the control group was 11.3+/-5.7 ng/mL. The serum NSE level of the febrile seizure group was higher than the serum NSE level of the control group, but there was no significant correlation. The serum NSE level of the febrile seizure group was 19.0+/-7.5 ng/mL and that of the control group was 12.8+/-5.1 ng/mL. The serum NSE level of the febrile seizure group was significantly higher than the serum NSE level of the control group. The CSF/serum ratio of NSE in the febrile seizure group was 0.7+/-0.3 and that of the control group was 1.0+/-0.5. The CSF/serum ratio of NSE in the febrile seizure group was lower than the CSF/serum ratio of NSE in the control group and there was a significant correlation. There was no significant correlation between seizure duration, serum NSE, CSF NSE, and the ratio of the CSF to the serum level of NSE. CONCLUSION: Children with febrile seizure are at relatively low risk for neuronal damage following seizures.