Metabolic profile of oxidative stress and trace elements in febrile seizures among children.

Febrile seizures (FS) are frequent convulsive disorders, occurring in infants and young children. The present study aims to assess and compare the serum levels of oxidative stress markers and some essential trace minerals in FS with normal or abnormal EEG and evaluate the effect of antioxidant therapy on the clinical outcome. This study has been carried out on 80 children with FS (40 with simple FS and 40 with complex FS) and 40 febrile children without seizures. Clinical and EEG findings were recorded for the included patients. Biochemical assays of serum nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and selenium (Se), using colorimetric methods, were measured in the studied groups. The overall results showed an increased values of NO, MDA and Cu with decreased values of SOD, Zn and Se in patients with FS (simple and complex) in comparison with febrile children without seizures (p < 0.05 for all). Additionally, NO and MDA was increased in complex FS patients with EEG abnormalities in comparison with complex FS with normal EEG findings (p < 0.05); NO and MDA were also significantly decreased after valproate therapy in complex FS patients (p < 0.05 for all). In conclusions, oxidative stress, decreased Zn and Se with increased Cu may play a role in FS. Valproate improves the oxidative stress status in complex FS.

Clinicoradiologic Correlation in 22 Egyptian Children With Megalencephalic Leukoencephalopathy With Subcortical Cysts.

Megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with subcortical cysts (MLC) is a rare genetic form of cerebral white matter disease whose clinicoradiologic correlation has not been completely understood. In this study, we investigated the association between clinical and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features in 22 Egyptian children (median age 7 years) with MLC. Gross motor function was assessed using the Gross Motor Function Classification System, and evaluation of brain MRI followed a consistent scoring system. Each parameter of extensive cerebral white matter T2 hyperintensity, moderate-to-severe wide ventricle/enlarged subarachnoid space, and greater than 2 temporal subcortical cysts was significantly associated (P < .05) with worse Gross Motor Function Classification System score, language abnormality, and ataxia. Having >2 parietal subcortical cysts was significantly related to a worse Gross Motor Function Classification System score (P = .04). The current study indicates that patients with MLC manifest signification association between certain brain MRI abnormalities and neurologic features, but this should be confirmed in larger studies.