Novel urinary markers: taurine, dopamine and L-fucose levels in predicting neonatal seizures

and Aim: Neonatal seizure is an age specific neurological emergency. Their unique pathophysiological mechanism has become subject of interest for many research studies. The recurrence risk for seizures is high during neonatal period and currently used treatment strategies have limited efficacy in preventing it. From past decades although the treatment has not changed, there is a gradual progress in various mechanisms that are involved in generation of seizures and their response to anti-epileptics. With the emergence of new biochemical parameters for risk assessment in patients with seizures, there is a strong need for their comparative evaluation in order to evaluate their potential clinical application. So, this study was carried out to compare the urine levels of taurine, dopamine and fucose in assessing their role in mechanism of seizure. Materials and Methods: After obtaining ethical approval and consent from parents total 43 neonates, urine taurine, dopamine and fucose were measured in 24 cases of seizures and 19 apparently healthy normal controls. Dopamine and Taurine were measured using ELISA and L-fucose by Dische and Shettles method. Results: The median level of urine fucose was significantly higher in male neonates, taurine was significantly decreased in cases compared to that of controls. Males had higher preponderance to develop seizures. The median levels of urine dopamine were high in cases compared to controls but has not showed any significance. Conclusion: Amino acid like taurine, carbohydrate moiety like fucose and a neuromodulator like dopamine may have a mechanistic role in development of seizures in neonatal period.