Copeptin as a Serum Biomarker for Febrile Convulsions

Abstract

Background: Febrile convulsions are the most common neurologic disorder in the pediatric age group, affecting 2–5% of children between 6 months and 5 years of age. Objective: We conducted the present acase control study in order to investigate whether copeptin can be considered as a biomarker for febrile convulsions and its relation with idiopathic convulsions. Patients and methods: The present study included 105 children with either febrile convulsions, fever or had epilepsy who were recruited from Pediatric department at Aswan University Hospital. Results: There was statistically significant increase in copeptin level in febrile convulsions compared to fever without convulsions and idiopathic epilepsy. There was statistically significant increase in temperature in febrile convulsions than other groups and in fever without convulsions than idiopathic epilepsy. There was statistically significant decrease in hemoglobin (p <0.001), MCV (p <0.001), HCT (p <0.001), in febrile convulsions compared with other groups. There was statistically significant decrease in serum Na in febrile convulsions and idiopathic epilepsy compared to fever without convulsion. Conclusion : The present study showed that serum copeptin was a significant discriminator of febrile convulsion from idiopathic epilepsy and