Changes of NSE and NO/NOS in serum and cerebrospinal fluid after convulsion in children and the clinical significance

Objective To explore the relationship of neuron injury and its severity with the cause and the duration of convulsion Methods Patients were divided into 5 groups or 3 groups according to the causes of convulsion or duration of convulsion in children The levels of neuron specific enolase(NSE) and nitrogen monoxide and nitricoxide synthase(NO/NOS) in serum and cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) were tested by ELISA and spectrophotography at different time points after convulsion in children Results The levels of NSE and NO/NOS in serum and CSF of all objective groups except the febrile convulsion group were apparently higher than those in control group( t =15 4～47 7, P 0 05～0 01) No matter what the causes might be, the levels of NSE and NO/NOS in serum and CSF increased in a time dependent manner There was a positive correlation between them( r =80 5～82 4, P 0 01) Because of more average times and longer duration of convulsion, the levels of NSE and NO/NOS in serum and CSF in children with intracranial infection were the highest and lasted for the longest time in all convulsion induced causes, especially in those with coma and severe nervous system complications However, no increase or just slight increase of the levels of NSE and NO/NOS was found in serum and CSF in children with febrile convulsion Conclusion Convulsion accompanied by different degrees of neuron injury leads to increased levels of NSE and NO/NOS in serum and CSF which are positively correlated with the duration and causes of convulsion and the severity of the brain damage