Plasma magnesium and calcium levels in children with epilepsy in lagos.
Niger Postgrad Med J
; 14(1): 26-9, 2007 Mar.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-17356585
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Magnesium and calcium have been found to have increasing roles in the patho-physiology of epilepsy. Hypomagnesaemia and hypocalcaemia cause hyper-exitability of neurons and have been associated strongly with seizures in adults and children.OBJECTIVES:
To determine if hypomagnesaemia or hypocalcaemia is present in Nigerian children with epilepsy and to determine the relationship between serum magnesium and calcium levels and frequency and control of epilepsy.DESIGN:
A prospective case control study at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. PATIENTS ANDMETHODS:
45 children with epilepsy and 45 controls were recruited from the paediatric neurology unit of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. Serum magnesium and calcium were measured by spectrophotometric methods.RESULTS:
Serum magnesium and calcium was significantly lower in the patients compared to the controls; Magnesium - 0.98 (0.0005) Vs 1.2 (0.04) mmol/L, p< 0.0001 and Calcium - 2.29 (0.04) Vs 2.3 (0.02) mmol/L, p<0.05 respectively. No significant differences were noted in the plasma phosphorus and albumin concentrations.CONCLUSION:
Magnesium and calcium levels are lower in the epileptic children compared to the controls during the seizure-free periods. More studies are needed to evaluate these electrolytes during seizures and the effect of the different anticonvulsant drugs on these electrolytes.
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Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Cálcio
/
Magnésio
Tipo de estudo:
Observational_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Child
/
Humans
País/Região como assunto:
Africa
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2007
Tipo de documento:
Article