Comparison of the complete blood count parameters of the epilepsy patients, in seizure and seizure-free periods, with the complete blood count parameters of the normal healthy subjects

ABSTRACT Comparison of the complete blood count parameters of the epilepsy patients, in seizure and seizure-free periods, with the complete blood count parameters of the normal healthy subjects Epilepsy is leading the most common chronic diseases, with the prevalence of 1% among the population. Epilepsy is a curable disease, which has lower treatment costs than various diseases. Despite this, 100 million epilepsy patients are estimated to exist all over the world and 35 million is believed not to have any treatments. To increase awareness on epilepsy, in 1997 WHO (World Health Organization) and ILAE (International League Against Epilepsy) initiated a global campaign in collaboration with IBE (International Bureau for Epilepsy). In this study hemogram parameters of the epilepsy patients were evaluated. During the epileptic seizures and in seizure-free periods, existence of inflammation was investigated and hemogram parameters which are indicators for inflammation were evaluated. In this study inclusion criteria were assigned as full-filling the epilepsy diagnosis criteria, being over the age of 18 and having no infection during the epileptic seizure (no elevation of CPR and ESR levels). 52 patients with priorly known epilepsy diagnosis and 48 healthy volunteers, who were matched according to their demographic characteristics, were included in the study. Hemogram parameters were evaluated retrospectively. Recent studies are focused on the role of the inflammatory mechanisms of the brain tissue in epileptogenesis. Outcomes from the experimental models and human brain tissue, showed the role of inflammation in epilepsy. In the literature it is claimed that MPV can be used as a biomarker in differentiation of complex febrile seizures with simple febrile seizures. Ratio of neutrophil-lymphocyte is shown to be in correlation with cardiovascular diseases, solid tumors and inflammation in latest studies and supported to have a prognostic value. And also in the literature it is v shown that RDW values of the patients with complex febrile seizures are higher than the patients with simple febrile seizures. In our study MPV elevation in patients with the diagnoses of epilepsy, was found to be significant pointing out to have chronic inflammation. Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio was not statistically significant when compared to the control group, both in seizure and seizure-free periods of the patients in our study. RDW levels of the patients, both in seizure and seizure-free periods, were found to be elevated in comparison to the normal population. Although there was no significant difference between the patients and the normal healthy subjects regarding HGB and HTC values, MCV levels were found to be higher when compared to the values of the control group. When blood parameters of the epilepsy patients in normal post-seizure periods, were compared to the parameters of the healthy volunteers; WBC, neutrophil and lymphocyte values were noted to be significantly different.