Serum concentration of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in epileptic children

Abstract

There are interesting evidences for the involvement of the neurotrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the mechanism of epileptogenesis. In this study we measured the serum concentrations of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in children with epilepsy and age-matched healthy controls. There was no statistically significant difference between the mean serum concentrations of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in epileptic children (13.8 ± 1.1 ng/mL) and age-matched healthy controls (13.9 ± 0.1 ng/mL). The mean concentration of serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor was not different between generalized epilepsy and partial epilepsy. We also did not find significant difference regarding the associated clinical features of epilepsy (the presence of history of febrile convulsion, cerebral palsy). However, epileptic children with mental retardation showed lower levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (P = 0.015). Here we studied serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor concentration in a group of children without an active epileptogenesis based on the clinical and electroencephalographic state. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor concentrations should be investigated in children with active epileptogenesis who had refractory epilepsy and epileptic encephalopathy.