title: Increased oxidant status in children with breath-holding spells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Breath-holding spells (BHS) are the most common form of non-epileptic paroxysmal events in infancy. The pathophysiology of BHS is not fully understood. Iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) may be a factor contributing to breath-holding spells. Although numerous reports have shown that elevated oxidative stress is implicated in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases and neurological conditions, such as epileptic seizures, brain damage, and neurotrauma, there are no data regarding the role of oxidative stress in the development of BHS. This study aimed to investigate oxidative stress in children with BHS.
  
  
  METHODS
  This case-control study was conducted at the Department of Pediatric Neurology, Harran University School of Medicine, Sanliurfa, in Turkey. Blood samples from 31 patients (14 females, 17 males) with BHS which were taken at least 24 h after the BHS attack, and a control group of 35 healthy individuals (13 females, 22 males) were used for the measurement of the plasma total antioxidant capacity, total oxidant status, and oxidative stress index, hemoglobin concentration, serum iron, transferrin saturation and serum ferritin levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The plasma total antioxidant capacity values were markedly lower and total oxidant status and oxidative stress index values in the BHS group were significantly higher than that in the controls (P ≤ 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that the value of oxidative stress was significantly higher in patients with BHS than in the controls. Conditions associated with increased oxidative stress such as IDA may be a risk factor for the development of BHS.
authors.affiliation: Pediatrician and Fellow of Pediatric Neurology, Harran University, Faculty of Medicine, Sanliurfa, Turkey. m.calik80@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Calik
authors.forename: Mahmut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abuhandan
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aycicek
authors.forename: Abdullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taskin
authors.forename: Sahabettin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Selek
authors.forename: Akin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iscan
mesh_terms: D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D062485:Breath Holding; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology*; D014421:Turkey
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D006454:Hemoglobins