RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Human milk contains leukocytes expressing brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which may facilitate epileptogenesis. Our study aimed to estimate levels of BDNF in the sera of breastfed infants with idiopathic epilepsy and in breastmilk of their mothers and to assess its value as a marker of epilepsy severity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty breastfed infants <2 years of age with idiopathic epilepsy and 15 control healthy breastfed infants were recruited for the study. Patients were subjected to thorough medical history, clinical examination, and assessment of disease severity. Routine laboratory and radiological investigations, including, liver, renal, and thyroid screen, brain magnetic resonance imaging, and measurement of serum and breastmilk BDNF levels, were performed. RESULTS: Serum BDNF levels of epileptic infants and milk BDNF levels of their mothers were significantly higher than values for controls (p=0.0001). They were positively correlated with age, weight, length, and head circumference of epileptic children. Also, serum and milk BDNF levels were significantly increased with increased duration of illness and frequency of seizures. There was a significant positive correlation between serum and breastmilk levels of BDNF and significantly higher levels in severe cases of epilepsy. CONCLUSIONS: Serum and milk BDNF levels are higher in epileptic infants than in controls and may be used as a marker of disease severity.