Somatostatin, substance P, prolactin and vasoactive intestinal peptide levels in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of children with seizure disorders.

Seventy patients aged from one month to 18 years with seizure disorders were classified into three groups: I. Patients who had hard control seizure attacks even under medication; II. those who had occasional seizure attacks (less than 6 times per year) and III. those who had no seizure attacks after receiving medication for at least one year. Blood samples were taken for somatostatin, substance P, prolactin and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) assays. Lumbar puncture was made in 32 children and CSF samples were also assayed for neuropeptides. Somatostatin levels in serum were significantly elevated in group I and group II (P = 0.05, ANOVA) but not in group III and control group. Similar observations were made in substance P, prolactin and VIP studies. In CSF, the somatostation can better indicate the difference between epileptic and normal children (comparison with group I, P greater than 0.001; with group II, P less than 0.001; even with those who were seizure free after medication, P less than 0.05). In conclusion, the levels of several neuropeptides (somatostatin, substance P. prolactin, VIP) were elevated in children with seizure disorders both in serum and CSF. The present investigation provides a new category for the understanding of the pathogenesis, treatment as well as prognosis of seizure disorders.