title: A probable causative factor for an old problem: selenium and glutathione peroxidase appear to play important roles in epilepsy pathogenesis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Only recently has it become known that oxidative stress and generation of reactive oxygen species are the cause and the consequence of epileptic seizures. Due to the protective role of selenium (Se) and selenoproteins against oxidative damage and the ability to promote neuronal cell survival, we compared serum selenium level and red blood cell Glutathione peroxidase activity (RBC GPx) between epileptic and healthy children.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a case control study, 53 epileptic children were compared with 57 healthy children in the same age and community of residence. Serum Se and RBC GPx activity were measured with an atomic absorption spectrophotometry and Cayman standard glutathione assay kit, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean (+/-standard deviation) of serum Se was 72.90 microg/L (+/-22.20) and 86.00 microg/L (+/-15.00) in patient and control groups, respectively. For RBC GPx activity the mean (+/-standard deviation) was 440.57 nmol/min/ml (+/-264.00) and 801.00 nmol/min/ml (+/-267.00) in patient and control groups, respectively. Statistical analysis showed a significant lower means of serum Se and RBC GPx activity in patient group compared to that of healthy control group (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lower serum Se and RBC GPx activity in epileptic patients compared to healthy children may support the proposed crucial role of Se and GPx activity in the pathogenesis of epilepsy. However, RBC GPx activity in the case of selenium deficiency could not be a sensitive and specific indicator of Se status in serum that led us to supplant Se measurement with RBC GPx activity.
authors.affiliation: Children's Medical Center, Department of Pediatric Neurology, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences/University of Tehran, Tehran, IranDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Medical Sciences/University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahmoud Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Ashrafi
authors.affiliation: Children's Medical Center, Department of Pediatric Neurology, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences/University of Tehran, Tehran, IranDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Medical Sciences/University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Sedigheh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shams
authors.affiliation: Children's Medical Center, Department of Pediatric Neurology, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences/University of Tehran, Tehran, IranDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Medical Sciences/University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehrnaz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nouri
authors.affiliation: Children's Medical Center, Department of Pediatric Neurology, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences/University of Tehran, Tehran, IranDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Medical Sciences/University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Meysam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohseni
authors.affiliation: Children's Medical Center, Department of Pediatric Neurology, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences/University of Tehran, Tehran, IranDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Medical Sciences/University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shabanian
authors.affiliation: Children's Medical Center, Department of Pediatric Neurology, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences/University of Tehran, Tehran, IranDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Medical Sciences/University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mir Saeed
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Yekaninejad
authors.affiliation: Children's Medical Center, Department of Pediatric Neurology, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences/University of Tehran, Tehran, IranDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Medical Sciences/University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Nastaran
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chegini
authors.affiliation: Children's Medical Center, Department of Pediatric Neurology, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences/University of Tehran, Tehran, IranDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Medical Sciences/University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khodadad
authors.affiliation: Children's Medical Center, Department of Pediatric Neurology, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences/University of Tehran, Tehran, IranDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Medical Sciences/University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Safaralizadeh
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D012372:ROC Curve; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D012643:Selenium