The Relationship Between Fatigue and C-Reactive Protein in Epilepsy Patients

Kim, KwangSoo

Abstract

PURPOSE
Fatigue is a frequent symptom of epilepsy, and is commonly reported as a side effect of many antiepileptic drugs. The aim of this study is to determine the rate of fatigue in epilepsy patients and its relation to C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen and homocysteine levels.
METHODS
Subjects were 39 epilepsy patients who were receiving antiepileptic drugs, and controls were composed of age- and sex-matched 20 healthy person. Fatigue was evaluated by using Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS). The plasma CRP, fibrinogen, and homocysteine levels were measured by turbidimetric immunoassay, scattered light detection method, and chemiluminescence immunoassay respectively. Univariate regression analysis was performed to assess the relationship between fatigue and CRP, fibrinogen, and homocysteine.
RESULTS
In patients with epilepsy the mean score of FSS was 4.54+/-1.69, and the rate of fatigue was 66.7%. When compared with normal controls, the mean CRP level of epilepsy patients was significantly elevated (p<0.01). Fatigue was significantly correlated with elevated serum CRP level in epilepsy patients (p<0.05). However, associations between fatigue and fibrinogen and homocysteine were not statistically significant.
CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that fatigue in epilepsy patients may be correlated with elevated serum CRP level.