EVALUATION OF SERUM ZINC STATUS IN PEDIATRIC EPILEPTIC PATIENTS IN SULAIMANIYAH GOVERNORATE

Volume 14 , Issue 1 , March 2024 , Pages 135-143

Authors

Jamal Maerof Shareef 1 ; Ibraheem Khasraw Ghafoor 1

1 Pediatric Department, College of Medicine, University of Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region, Iraq.

DOI logo 10.17656/jsmc.10459

Keywords

Abstract

Background
Epilepsy is the most common neurological condition in pediatric age groups, which may have negative
impacts on different aspects of development, cognition, growth, and behavior. The trace element of zinc has
physiological effects on neuronal fi ring, and many studies have stated that it may contribute to the aetiology
of seizure and epilepsy.
Objectives
To determine if there is any association between zinc defi ciency and epilepsy among children in our region.
Patients and methods
One hundred thirteen (113) idiopathic epileptic cases aged 3 months-17 years; 32 newly diagnosed before
starting Anti-epileptic drugs AEDs, 47 respondents to and the remaining 34 refractories to anti-epileptic
drugs visiting epilepsy clinic at Dr. Jamal Ahmad Rashid’s pediatric teaching hospital compared with 118
non-epileptic patients age six months-16 years, visiting private clinic for other medical reasons were enrolled
as a control group during October 30 2021- December 24 2022 in Sulaimaniyah governorate. The serum zinc
levels of both groups were measured with a colorimetric method with 5- bromo-PAPS, and statistical analysis
was performed by the SPSS program, version 24.0, with a P value <0.05 considered signifi cant.
Results
The median serum zinc concentration was 71.5 (60.5-85.5) µg/dl in pediatric patients, which was signifi cantly
lower than the serum zinc level of the controls, 80.5 (64.8-102.3) µg/dl, P=0.003.
Conclusion
This study concludes that the serum zinc level in epileptic children is signifi cantly lower than that of nonepileptic children. However, the reason behind this difference has not yet been explained. 

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  • Published at21 March 2024

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