High Mobility Group Protein B1 (HMGB1) and Interleukin-1β as Prognostic Biomarkers of Epilepsy in Children

The present study examined whether serum biomarkers can predict the prognosis of childhood epilepsy, including seizure frequency, electroencephalographic (EEG) changes, and cognitive impairment. We measured serum concentrations of high mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), S100 calcium-binding protein B (S-100B), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and α1-antichymotrypsin (AACT) in 180 children with new-onset epilepsy and 40 healthy children. Cognitive evaluations were performed 18 months after the initial seizure episodes at diagnosis (ie, baseline visit). The relationship between serum biomarkers and epilepsy prognosis was investigated using Pearson correlation coefficients, logistic regression analyses, and receiver operating characteristic curves. Sixty-seven patients had generalized tonic-clonic seizures, 92 had focal motor seizures, and 21 had epileptic spasms. Serum concentrations of HMGB1, IL-1β, S-100B, and GFAP were significantly higher in the epilepsy group within 24 hours of a seizure episode than in the control group. Furthermore, HMGB1 and IL-1β were significant predictors of epilepsy prognosis. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that HMGB1 could more accurately predict seizure frequency than IL-1β; when the serum concentration of HMGB1 was >9.625 ng/mL, there was 80.6% sensitivity and 92.5% specificity for predicting seizure frequency reduction. In conclusion, HMGB1 and IL-1β have a predictive value for epilepsy prognosis in children.