J Korean Child Neurol Soc.  2017 Sep;25(3):146-150. 10.26815/jkcns.2017.25.3.146.

Iron Supplement in Paroxysmal Non-epileptic Events in Children

• Lee J
• Choi J
• Kwon HH
• Kang JW

• KMID: 2392550
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.26815/jkcns.2017.25.3.146

Abstract

PURPOSE
Paroxysmal non-epileptic event (PNE) is a common seizure-like symptom in children. With regard to therapy, a decrease in iron levels was reported in breath-holding spells, but not in other PNEs. The effects of iron supplementation were investigated on various PNEs.
METHODS
Medical records of patients who visited our clinic with seizure-like symptoms were retrospectively reviewed at Chungnam National University Hospital, from March 2013 to March 2016.
RESULTS
A total of 29 patients (65.9%) were boys and 15 (34.1%) were girls. The mean gestational age and birth weight were 39.3 weeks and 3,200 g, respectively. The mean age at the time of visit was 23.5 months. Of the 11 patients who underwent brain imaging, 10 (90.9%) had normal findings and 1 (9.1%) had subdural hemorrhage. An electroencephalogram was performed in 29 patients; 26 of them had normal findings (89.7%), 2 (6.9%) had slow background, and 1 (3.4%) had epileptiform discharges. A total of 31 patients (70.5%) had iron levels lower than 80 µg/dL. Iron supplementation was administered in 4 of the 13 patients with normal iron status and in 21 of the 31 patients with low iron status. A significant improvement in the frequency and severity of symptom was observed in 91.7% of patients who received iron supplementation (P<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Symptoms improved in 80% of patients with PNE, and a higher rate of symptom improvement could be expected with iron supplementation.

Keyword

Infant behavior; Seizure; Iron; Children

MeSH Terms

Birth Weight
Child*
Chungcheongnam-do
Electroencephalography
Female
Gestational Age
Hematoma, Subdural
Humans
Infant
Infant Behavior
Infant, Newborn
Iron*
Medical Records
Neuroimaging
Retrospective Studies
Seizures
Iron