Serum level of C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 in children with drug-resistant epilepsy

There is increasing evidence that chronic inflammation affects the pathophysiology of epilepsy, especially the drug-resistant type. Drug-resistant epilepsy is a challenging condition, because of the difficulties in its management, and its unclear epileptogenesis. This study is looking at C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in those with drug-resistant epilepsy and the correlation of these levels with seizure frequency. Hence, 40 children with drug-resistant epilepsy were included in this study and compared with 20 healthy volunteers (as a control group). Participants were aged between 5 and 15 years. Patients were divided into two subgroups, those with daily seizures (Group A1) and those with monthly seizures (Group A2). Serum levels of CRP and IL-6 were measured in all participants. The clinical characteristics, electroencephalography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings were then compared. CRP levels were significantly higher in Group A1, at 21.88-93.29 mg/L than both Group A2 and the control group, at 3.02-40.37 mg/L and 2.23-13.18 mg/L, P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively. The IL-6 levels were also significantly higher in Group A1, at 153.60-597.80 ng/L than in both Group A2 and the control group, at 97.40-232.50 ng/L and 12.00-96.30 ng/L, P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively. Significantly higher levels of CRP and IL-6 were associated with earlier age of onset (P < 0.01), seizure frequency (P < 0.05), and the frequency of status epilepticus (P < 0.01). Moreover, frequent-generalized motor seizures are correlated with elevated CRP and IL-6 levels. As a result, this systemic inflammatory reaction in children may contribute to drug-resistant seizure and potentially could be used as biomarkers to be correlated with disease severity and prognosis.