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Interictal epileptiform discharges on electroencephalography in children with methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphisms

Neurological Sciences volume 41, pages 631–636 (2020)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is an important enzyme involved in folate metabolism. MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms are best-defined variants of MTHFR that were reported to be associated with epilepsy development. The aim of the study was to determine the incidence of interictal epileptiform discharges on electroencephalography (EEG) in asymptomatic children with C677T and A1298C polymorphisms who had no history of seizure.

Methods

Children with MTHFR C677T or A1298C polymorphisms who had normal neurological examination without a history of seizure were included in the study. Blood samples for serum folate, vitamin B12, and homocysteine levels were analyzed. Sleep and awake electroencephalograms (EEG) were recorded.

Results

A total of 102 children (50 girls and 52 boys) with a mean age of 59.4 ± 58.7 months were included in the study. Interictal epileptiform EEG discharges were detected in 3 children (2.9%).

Conclusion

There was no increase in the prevalence of interictal epileptiform discharges in seizure-free and asymptomatic children with MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms.

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Author information

Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatric Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Medeniyet University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Elif Karatoprak

  2. Umraniye Training and Research Hospital Department of Pediatric Neurology, Umraniye, Istanbul, Turkey

    Gulhan Sozen

  3. Department of Pediatric Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Ordu University, Ordu, Turkey

    Kutluhan Yılmaz

  4. Department of Pediatric Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, Mayıs University, Samsun, Turkey

    Işıl Ozer

Authors
  1. Elif Karatoprak
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  2. Gulhan Sozen
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  3. Kutluhan Yılmaz
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  4. Işıl Ozer
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Contributions

EK: Acquisition and interpretation of data, drafting and writing the article, final approval of the version to be published.

GS, IO: Acquisition and interpretation of data.

KY: Concept and design of the project.

All the writers were working in Medeniyet University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics at the time while the study was performed.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Elif Karatoprak.

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Ethical approval

The study was approved by the local ethics committee of Medeniyet University, Faculty of Medicine with a number report number 2013/067. Informed consents of parents and subjects were obtained.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Karatoprak, E., Sozen, G., Yılmaz, K. et al. Interictal epileptiform discharges on electroencephalography in children with methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphisms. Neurol Sci 41, 631–636 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-019-04119-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-019-04119-4

Keywords

  • MTHFR
  • Polymorphism
  • Children
  • Electroencephalography