PURPOSE: A part of seizure disorders, hemosiderin deposits are noted in epileptogenic lesions cytopathologically and iron status may affect the seizure threshold. To investigate this possibility, measures of iron sufficiency were evaluated. METHODS: Children between 6 months and 5 years of age with febrile illnesss with (n=45) or without simple febrile seizures(n=50) were eligible for study. Children with the central nervous system(meningitis or encephalitis) infection, developmental delay, neurologic deficit, or past history of febrile seizures were excluded. RESULTS: The hemoglobin level was 11.99+/-0.96 gm/dL in the febrile seizure and 11.44+/-1.6 gm/dL in the control group. The mean corpuscular volume was 77.9+/-6.2 fL in the febrile seizure group and 74.6+/-10.5 fL in the control group. The mean corpuscular hemoglobin was 26.8+/-2.1 pg in the febrile seizure group and 25.4+/-3.6 pg in the control group. The platelet count was 348.6+/-141.4(x10(9)/L) in the febrile seizure group and 382.3+/-107.3(x10(9)/L) in the control group. The ferritin was 27.5+/-20.2 mg/L in the febrile seizure group and 22.5+/-15.6 mg/L in the control group. CONCLUSION: A relationship between iron deficiency and a reduced risk of febrile seizures is consistent with the study hypothesis that iron deficiency may thereby raise the febrile seizure threshold. Therefore, the effects of antioxidants on the frequency of febrile seizures could be evaluated to test this hypothesis more directly. Studies using iron chelators would be necessary to delineate these possible effects.
Anemia ; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency* ; Antioxidants ; Chelating Agents ; Child ; Epilepsy ; Erythrocyte Indices ; Ferritins ; Hemosiderin ; Humans ; Iron* ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Platelet Count ; Seizures ; Seizures, Febrile*

PURPOSE: A part of seizure disorders, hemosiderin deposits are noted in epileptogenic lesions cytopathologically and iron status may affect the seizure threshold. To investigate this possibility, measures of iron sufficiency were evaluated. METHODS: Children between 6 months and 5 years of age with febrile illnesss with (n=45) or without simple febrile seizures(n=50) were eligible for study. Children with the central nervous system(meningitis or encephalitis) infection, developmental delay, neurologic deficit, or past history of febrile seizures were excluded. RESULTS: The hemoglobin level was 11.99+/-0.96 gm/dL in the febrile seizure and 11.44+/-1.6 gm/dL in the control group. The mean corpuscular volume was 77.9+/-6.2 fL in the febrile seizure group and 74.6+/-10.5 fL in the control group. The mean corpuscular hemoglobin was 26.8+/-2.1 pg in the febrile seizure group and 25.4+/-3.6 pg in the control group. The platelet count was 348.6+/-141.4(x10(9)/L) in the febrile seizure group and 382.3+/-107.3(x10(9)/L) in the control group. The ferritin was 27.5+/-20.2 mg/L in the febrile seizure group and 22.5+/-15.6 mg/L in the control group. CONCLUSION: A relationship between iron deficiency and a reduced risk of febrile seizures is consistent with the study hypothesis that iron deficiency may thereby raise the febrile seizure threshold. Therefore, the effects of antioxidants on the frequency of febrile seizures could be evaluated to test this hypothesis more directly. Studies using iron chelators would be necessary to delineate these possible effects.
Anemia ; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency* ; Antioxidants ; Chelating Agents ; Child ; Epilepsy ; Erythrocyte Indices ; Ferritins ; Hemosiderin ; Humans ; Iron* ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Platelet Count ; Seizures ; Seizures, Febrile*