title: Neuron-specific enolase, a marker of acute neuronal injury, is increased in complex partial status epilepticus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether complex partial status epilepticus (CPSE) causes brain injury in humans. Serum neuron-specific enolase (s-NSE) is an accepted marker of acute brain injury, and increases in s-NSE have been correlated with the duration and outcome of generalized convulsive status epilepticus. s-NSE levels in CPSE are unknown. Increase in s-NSE in CPSE would provide new information about the degree of brain injury in CPSE and would help confirm that CPSE is a medical emergency.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a pilot prospective study of serial levels of s-NSE and outcome in CPSE. Eight patients with confirmed CPSE and no acute neurologic deficit were identified prospectively. Results were compared with those of normal and epileptic control groups, and outcome was assessed at hospital discharge or at 7 days with the Glasgow Oucome Scale (GOS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean peak s-NSE was 21.81 ng/ml, which for the 8 patients with CPSE was four times higher than that of normal controls (mean s-NSE = 5.36 SD = 1.66, p = 0.0003) and epileptic controls (mean s-NSE = 4.61 SD = 1.74, p. = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The increase in s-NSE provides new evidence that CPSE causes brain injury in humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles 90033, USA.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: DeGiorgio
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Gott
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Rabinowicz
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Heck
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Correale
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D017029:Epilepsy, Complex Partial / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D013226:Status Epilepticus / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase