To identify whether serum uric acid levels are significantly higher in patients with benign convulsion associated with mild gastroenteritis (CwG) than in patients with acute gastroenteritis. This retrospective study compared the serum levels of uric acid between CwG, acute gastroenteritis, and febrile seizure after correcting for the varying degree of mild dehydration using serum HCO₃- levels. We also compared the serum uric acid levels between patients with CwG and febrile seizures in order to exclude the effect of seizures on uric acid. This study included 154 CwG patients (age range 0.73-3.19 years), 2,938 patients with acute gastroenteritis, and 154 patients with febrile seizure. The serum uric acid level was significantly higher in CwG patients than in patients with acute gastroenteritis [9.79±2.16 mg/dL vs. 6.04±2.3 mg/dL (mean±SD), p<0.001]. This difference was also significant after correcting for dehydration. The serum uric acid level was significantly higher in CwG patients than in dehydration-corrected acute gastroenteritis patients (9.79±2.16 mg/dL vs. 6.67±2.48 mg/dL, p<0.001). The serum uric acid level was not elevated in patients with febrile seizure. We have confirmed that serum uric acid is elevated in CwG patients even after correcting for their dehydration status, and that this was not a postictal phenomenon. Highly elevated serum uric acid in CwG could be a useful clinical indicator of CwG in patients with acute gastroenteritis.

Population-based data on drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) are lacking. This retrospective study aimed to determine the prevalence and incidence of pediatric epilepsy and DRE in South Korea using health insurance claims data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (2013–2022). Epilepsy and DRE prevalence and incidence in children <18 years old were estimated over time and by age and sex. Results showed that the age-standardized prevalence and incidence rates of epilepsy increased. The age-standardized prevalence rate of DRE increased, while the age-standardized incidence rate remained unchanged. The standardized prevalence rate of DRE was 0.26 per 1000 persons, and the average standardized incidence rate of DRE was 0.06 per 1000 persons. The prevalence rate of DRE gradually increased with age, with age 0 demonstrating the highest incidence rate. The prevalence of generalized DRE was the highest across all ages, and incidence was the highest at 0 years. Conversely, the incidence of focal DRE did not change with age. Our study revealed a stable incidence rate of DRE in Korea, despite increased prevalence. DRE incidence was the highest in the first year of life, with the generalized type being the most prevalent.

Yoo IH, et al. J Clin Neurol. 2020 Jul;16(3):461-469. https://doi.org/10.3988/jcn.2020.16.3.461

Han JY, et al. J Clin Neurol. 2025 Jan;21(1):65-73. https://doi.org/10.3988/jcn.2024.0276