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-α(TNF-α), Interleukin-1β(IL-1β) and Interleukin-6(IL-6) in children with febrile convulsions.
Methods : Serum and CSF zinc levels and the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β 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-α, IL-1β 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±64.85μg/dl, 106.5±64.9μg/dl, respectively. In the controls, the CSF and serum zn levels were a mean of a 68.66±43.0μg/dl, 109.6±36.9μg/dl, respectively. We found that the TNF-α 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-α, IL-1β 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-α, IL-1β and IL-6.