Relationship between Serum Levels of Homocysteine and Folate and Seizure Severity in Patients with Idiopathic Epilepsy

Ha, Sang Wook; Kim, Kwang Soo

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: High serum homocysteine level is recognised as one of risk factors for epileptic seizure. Folate is involved in the homocysteine metabolism and low serum folate level increases the frequency of the seizure activity. The purpose of this study is to examine the changes of the serum levels of homocysteine and folate in epileptic patients and to evaluate the correlation between the severity of seizure and serum levels of homocysteine and folate. METHOD: Subjects were 17 patients who were diagnosed as idiopathic epilepsy and the control group was composed of age and sex matched 17 healthy adults. The serum homocysteine level was measured with the Chemiluminescent Immunoassay (CLIA), and folate level was measured with Radioimmuno assay (RIA). The severity of seizure was measured by using National Hospital Seizure Scale.
RESULTS
The serum level of homocysteine was significantly higher in the patients group than in control group. However, the serum level of folate was not different between two group. The relationship between the seizure severity and the serum levels of homocysteine and folate showed positive correlations.
CONCLUSIONS
There results reveal that the serum homocysteine may effect on the epileptic seizure severity.