Investigation of changes in MDH enzyme activity in epilepsy

Abstract

Aims: Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological diseases. It is classified into three groups: focal onset, generalized onset and unclassifiable. A seizure type is difficult to determine. The malate dehydrogenase (MDH) enzyme has a critical role in the excitability of the brain, and it has been reported that recurrent seizures are seen when its regulation is disturbed. We investigated the contribution of MDH enzyme levels as a biomarker to seizure classification. Methods: Our study was conducted prospectively by patients who were admitted to the emergency department of our hospital within a six-month period. Included in the study were 65 patients diagnosed with epilepsy, according to the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) classification. The patients were divided into two groups according to seizure type: focal onset and generalized onset. They were compared in terms of enzyme activity. Results: The MDH value was 47.56 ± 38.65 in patients with focal-onset epilepsy and 109.76 ± 128.44 in patients with generalized-onset epilepsy. Conclusion: Our results reveal the potential of MDH as a biomarker that can be used in epilepsy. In addition, the statistically significant difference between focal-onset and generalized-onset epilepsy indicates that it can be a usable biomarker in seizure classification