title: Role of Ca2+ homeostasis disruption in rotavirus-associated seizures.
abstract: Rotavirus infection disturbs cellular Ca(2+) homeostasis by triggering an increase in Ca(2+) permeation. A theoretical link between Ca(2+) dysregulation and seizures in patients with rotavirus gastroenteritis has been suggested, but no prior studies have investigated this relationship. To test our hypothesis that patients with rotavirus-associated seizures have greater Ca(2+) homeostasis disruption than those without seizures, we compared clinical and laboratory data--including corrected total serum Ca(2+) levels--between the 2 groups. Age, gender, maximum body temperature, day of admission, levels of electrolytes except Ca(2+), blood pH, and urine ketone levels were not related to seizure occurrence. Significantly lower Ca(2+) levels were found among the seizure (+) group (9.22 ± 0.50 vs 9.66 ± 0.46 mg/dL, P = .01). Although Ca(2+) levels were within normal ranges and did not directly cause the seizures, our results provide preliminary evidence for a relationship between Ca(2+) homeostasis disruption and seizures in rotavirus patients.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Pediatrics, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea.
authors.forename: Jung Sook
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Yeom
authors.forename: Young-Soo
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ji Sook
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Ji-Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Eun Sil
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jae-Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Chan-Hoo
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hyang-Ok
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.forename: Hee-Shang
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Youn
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D001831:Body Temperature; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007659:Ketones / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D010343:Patient Admission; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications* / Q000652:urine; D012640:Seizures / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000652:urine; D012727:Sex Characteristics
chemical_list: D007659:Ketones; D002118:Calcium