gamma-Aminobutyric acid in CSF of children with febrile seizures.

Previous studies have suggested that levels of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) may be decreased in children with febrile seizures. We used gas chromatography and mass spectrometry to measure CSF GABA levels in 14 children with febrile seizures. The results were compared with the GABA levels in six children with first-time afebrile seizures, three with recurrent febrile seizures, and 13 controls (febrile children undergoing lumbar puncture to rule out meningitis). Children with central nervous system infections or known neurologic disease were excluded. The CSF GABA levels in children with febrile seizures were not significantly different from those in controls and children with afebrile or recurrent febrile seizures. In the control group, CSF GABA levels correlated with increasing age. There was no correlation with severity of febrile response in any group. The results indicated that the CSF GABA level may not be abnormal in patients with first-time febrile convulsions.