Cerebrospinal fluid/serum lactic acid in febrile convulsions.

Cerebrospinal fluid/serum lactic acid was prospectively assayed in 42 patients with febrile convulsions. Patients were divided into two groups for analytical purposes. Those with brief febrile seizures (30 patients) and the remaining 12 patients had prolonged febrile seizures. CSF and serum lactic acid values were within normal range in patients with brief seizures while elevated values were obtained in patients with prolonged seizures. The mean CSF lactic acid on admission was significantly higher (P less than 0.001) in patients with prolonged seizures than corresponding values in those with brief seizures. Mean serum lactic acid on admission was also significantly higher in patients with prolonged febrile seizures compared to the corresponding mean value in patients with brief seizures (P greater than 0.001). Patients who recovered with neurological deficits had significantly higher CSF lactic acid on admission (P greater than 0.001). Similarly 8 patients who had recurrent febrile convulsions had significantly higher CSF lactate on admission. It is suggested that measurement of CSF lactate can be used as a biochemical marker to identify children with prolonged seizures and those who are likely to have recurrent febrile seizures.

Cerebrospinal fluid/serum lactic acid in Nigerian children with febrile convulsions.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum lactic acid levels were prospectively assayed in 42 children less than 5 years old with febrile convulsions who were divided into two groups for analytical purposes, irrespective of aetiology of pyrexia. One group (24 children) had brief febrile seizures and the remaining 18 children had prolonged febrile seizures. CSF and serum lactic acid values were obtained for brief and prolonged seizures. On admission, the mean CSF lactic acid was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in children with prolonged than with brief seizures, but the mean serum lactic acid was not significantly different between the two groups. Twelve of the 18 children (67%) with prolonged seizures and elevated CSF lactate had seizure recurrence. There were no recurrences of seizures in children with a brief initial seizure and low CSF lactate. CSF lactic acid is elevated in children with prolonged seizures and this may be useful in detecting those with a prolonged seizure where the history of the duration of the seizure is not clear. Prolonged seizure has been associated with the risk of recurrence and therefore such children with elevated CSF lactic acid levels might benefit from long-term anticonvulsant therapy.