Evaluation of the Diagnostic Utility of Serum Copeptin Level in Children with Febrile Seizures

Abstract

Introduction: Between the ages of six months and five years, 2-5% of children experience febrile seizures, which are the most common type of convulsion in children. Pituitary hormone arginine-vasopressin (AVP) has been demonstrated to influence the thermoregulatory system in response to fever and convulsions. It has been determined that the C-terminal region of copeptin is a good indicator of the synthesis of AVP. Objective: The aim of the current study was to assess serum copeptin's diagnostic utility in febrile seizures. Patients and methods: A case-control study was conducted at Makkah hospital Emergency., Saudi Arabia A total of 46 patients were recruited and were divided into two groups; Febrile seizure group included 23 patients and febrile without seizures group included 23 patients. Results: There is significant higher copeptin value in febrile seizures group compared to febrile control without seizures group (P<0.05). Copeptin in diagnose seizure patients in febrile patients revealed a sensitivity of 82.6%, a specificity of 78.3% and 80.4% accuracy at a cutoff value >75 pg/ml. Conclusion: The distinction between a febrile seizure and one without a seizure can be made by serum copeptin. In patients with fever, serum copeptin with a cutoff value of >75 pg/ml was a useful diagnostic for seizure detection. As a diagnostic tool, serum copeptin functioned satisfactorily, suggesting a possible place for it in the febrile seizure diagnostic algorithm.