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[Paroxysmal activity test in pediatric neurology]
Insights
Autoantibodies to glutamate receptors (Glu aAB) are elevated in children with epilepsy and epileptic syndromes. Treatment reducing seizures also lowered Glu aAB levels, suggesting a role in brain epileptization.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Glutamate receptors play a critical role in the formation of epileptic foci.
- Autoantibodies against glutamate receptors may be implicated in the pathogenesis of epilepsy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the levels of autoantibodies (Glu aAB) to a 56 kDa fragment of glutamate receptors in children.
- To assess the correlation between Glu aAB levels and epilepsy, epileptic syndromes, and paroxysmal disorders.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the "Paroxysmal activity test" (PAT) diagnostic kit.
- Examined 140 children (2 months–16 years) with neurological conditions and 32 healthy children.
- Measured serum levels of autoantibodies to a 56 kDa quisqualate membrane protein fragment of glutamate receptors.
Main Results:
- Significantly elevated Glu aAB levels were observed in children with epilepsy and epileptic syndromes compared to healthy controls.
- Glu aAB levels decreased in patients undergoing effective anticonvulsant therapy, correlating with seizure relief and normalized EEG.
- Children with paroxysmal disorders showed higher Glu aAB levels than healthy children but lower than those with epilepsy.
Conclusions:
- Elevated Glu aAB levels are associated with epilepsy and epileptic syndromes in children.
- The study suggests Glu aAB measurement could be a valuable clinical tool for assessing brain epileptization in neurological diseases.
- Therapeutic interventions leading to seizure control may reduce Glu aAB levels.
Abstract:
Taking into consideration the significance of glutamate receptors in epileptic focus forming, the authors studied the level of autoantibodies (Glu aAB) to fragment of glutamate receptors, quisqualate membrane protein with molecular mass 56 kDa in blood serum. The study employed the diagnostic kit "Paroxysmal activity test" (PAT) elaborated in Institute of Human Brain, RAS (St-Petersburg), 140 children from 2 months to 16 years with epilepsy, epileptic syndrome, paroxysmal states of nonepileptic genesis and with other neurologic diseases as well as 32 practically healthy children were examined. Significant increase of Glu aAB level was found in children with epilepsy and epileptic syndrome as compared with healthy children. Glu aAB level was decreased in patients which were treated by adequate anticonvulsant therapy that resulted in relief of convulsive fits for 6 months and normalization of EEG. In patients with paroxysmal disorders Glu aAB content was lower than in patients with epilepsy and epileptic syndrome, but higher than in healthy children; 5 children from this group with high level of Glu aAB had seizures in aged. It was proposed to introduce the described method into clinic for the study of the processes of brain's epileptization in process of development of diseases of nervous system, accompanied by convulsions or paroxysmal states.