Background Epilepsy is among the most common disabling neurological disorders among children. Altered serum levels of zinc and copper may facilitate seizure occurrence and repetition, and antiepileptic drugs may disturb their serum levels affecting disease control and outcome. Objective To investigate the association between serum levels of zinc and copper and epilepsy and antiepileptic treatment in a group of Egyptian epileptic children. Methods Case-control study on 100 epileptic patients, aged from 2 to 16 years, from neurology outpatient clinic and 50 apparently healthy children with matched age and sex. Venous samples were withdrawn from patients and controls then serum levels of zinc and copper were measured with graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer-A Analyst 800. Results Serum zinc level of patients’ group was significantly lower than that of controls with a mean of 59.1 μ/dL ± 22.7 and 85 μ/dL ± 22.2, respectively ( P < 0.01). Serum zinc level of patients with history of febrile seizures was significantly decreased compared to patients without history of febrile seizures with a mean of 41.5 μ/dL ± 20.1 and 67.9 μ/dL ± 19.3, respectively ( P < 0.01). Patient on carbamazepine intake showed significantly lower zinc serum level than patients without carbamazepine intake, with a mean of 49.0 μ/dL ± 17 and 61.8 μ/dL ± 23.4, respectively ( P < 0.01). A significant negative correlation was noted between the duration of illness of epilepsy and the mean copper serum level ( P < 0.05). Conclusion Zinc and copper altered homeostasis have mounting evidence about their role in the pathogenesis of epilepsy. Designing treatment plans that selectively restore zinc and copper normal levels may be a beneficial strategy in the future.

中文翻译：

---

埃及癫痫儿童样本的血清锌和铜水平

背景 癫痫是儿童中最常见的致残性神经系统疾病之一。锌和铜的血清水平改变可能会促进癫痫发作和重复，抗癫痫药物可能会干扰其血清水平，影响疾病控制和结果。目的探讨埃及癫痫患儿血清锌、铜水平与癫痫及抗癫痫治疗的相关性。方法对100例2～16岁神经内科门诊癫痫患者和50例年龄、性别相匹配的表观健康儿童进行病例对照研究。从患者和对照中抽取静脉样本，然后用石墨炉原子吸收光谱仪-A Analyst 800 测量血清锌和铜水平。结果患者组血清锌水平显着低于对照组，平均值分别为59.1 μ/dL ± 22.7和85 μ/dL ± 22.2（ P < 0.01）。有热性惊厥史患者血清锌水平较无热性惊厥史患者显着降低，平均值分别为 41.5 μ/dL ± 20.1 和 67.9 μ/dL ± 19.3（ P < 0.01）。服用卡马西平的患者血清锌水平显着低于未服用卡马西平的患者，平均值分别为 49.0 μ/dL ± 17 和 61.8 μ/dL ± 23.4（ P < 0.01）。癫痫病程与平均血清铜水平呈显着负相关（ P < 0.05）。结论 锌和铜改变体内平衡有越来越多的证据表明它们在癫痫发病机制中的作用。