Role of lactate measurement in predicting recurrence of seizure within 24 hours in simple febrile seizure patients

Pediatric febrile seizure (FS) is classified into two types, simple febrile seizures (SFSs) and complex febrile seizures (CFSs). The prognosis of CFS and SFS is distinct from each other. Even after diagnosis of SFS, patients with recurrence of seizure within 24 hours are defined as CFS. And it is crucial to predict the recurrence of seizure in SFS patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of lactate levels in predicting recurrence of seizure within 24 hours in SFS patients. This retrospective study was conducted on patients who visited the emergency department with FS from January 2017 to February 2020 at a single tertiary university hospital. They were divided into the recurrence group and the SFS group according to the recurrence of seizures. Multivariable analysis was performed to confirm whether lactate levels could be an independent factor in predicting recurrence of seizure within 24 hours in SFS patients. Of the 177 patients, 38 patients were classified into the recurrence group. High lactate levels (odds ratio = 1.45; 95% confidence interval: 1.04-2.03, p = 0.031) were found to be a significant factor in predicting recurrence of seizure within 24 hours in SFS patients. The areas under the ROC curve for lactate was 0.733. In patients with FS, high lactate levels were shown to be a useful and independent factor in predicting recurrence of seizure within 24 hours in SFS patients.