Prostaglandin was shown to be pyrogenic in central nervous system of animals and vasoconstrictor effect of prostaglandin F₂α on the carotid artery has been reported. These studies suggested that prostaglandin F₂α of the central nervous system may be related to the pathogenesis of febrile convulsion. The levels of cerebrospinal fluid prostaglandin F₂α were monitored using radioimmunoassay in children as follows: febrile convulsion (18 cases); meningitis (23 cases); epilepsy (18 cases) and non-neurological diseases (14 cases). We examined the cerebrospinal fluid in children with non-neurological diseases because of suspected neurological diseases at admission time.
A seven-fold increase in the level of prostaglandin F₂α was found in patients with febrile convulsion when their body temperature was above 37.5°C to 40°C, as compared to normal leves of prostaglandin F₂α in children with non-neurological diseases and body temperature above 37.5°C to 40°C (293.9 pg/m/ as compared to an average of 42.0 pg/m/). The prostaglandin F₂α levels were high within a day after the episodes of febrile convulsions (average value 329.3 pg/m/) and dramatically decreased after the first day (average value 41.8 pg/ml). A three-fold increase of prostaglandin F₂α levels was also found in children with meningitis but an increase of prostaglandin F₂α levels was not found in children with epilepsy when their body temperature was above 37.5°Cto 40°C.
In view of these results the most suitable therapy would be the administration of aspirin or indomethacin to antagonize the effect of prostaglandin, in conjuction with the usual antiepileptic drugs.