Razi Journal of Medical Sciences

  Background & Aim: The levels of lactic dehydrogenase(LDH) in the cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) have been used to evaluate a variety of neurologic disorders. However, few studies have been performed on CSF LDH in febrile convulsion patients. The aim of this study is to compare CSF LDH in children with simple and complex febrile convulsion.

  Patients and Method: In this study, which was prospective, analytic and cross-sectional, CSF samples were collected from 225 children: 75 with simple febrile convulsions(group A), 75 with complex febrile convulsions(group B) and 75 with no neurological or intracranial pathology(controls, group C). Lactic dehydrogenase(LDH) levels in CSF were measured by a Hitachi analyzer. Then CSF LDH was compared between the three groups. The results were analyzed via Students' t-test.

  Results: Mean total LDH levels in groups A, B and C were 64.62 ± 12.44, 81.93 ± 21.37, and 51.10 ± 11.82 IU/L respectively. The LDH level in group B was significantly higher(P<0.05) than that in the other two groups. In group A, mean CSF LDH level was also higher than that in group C(P<0.05).

  Conclusion: This survey is the second report on the LDH level in the CSF of the patients with simple and complex febrile convulsions. The important finding is that simple and complex febrile convulsions may be associated with cell damage and change in aerobic and anaerobic metabolism, and this damage is greater in complex febrile convulsions.