Systemic Inflammatory markers are associated with drug-resistant pediatric epilepsy in Ghanaian children

Systemic Inflammatory markers are associated with drug-resistant pediatric epilepsy in Ghanaian children. Systemic Inflammatory markers are associated with drug-resistant pediatric epilepsy in Ghanaian children Article Open access Published: 29 October 2026 Cite this article You have full access to this open access article Download PDF View saved research Systemic Inflammatory markers are associated with drug-resistant pediatric epilepsy in Ghanaian children Download PDF Abstract Drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) in children is associated with significant morbidity, yet the contribution of systemic inflammation to its clinical expression remains incompletely defined, particularly in low- and middle-income settings. This study investigated the relationship between systemic inflammatory markers, drug resistance and seizure severity in a paediatric cohort in Ghana.

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 180 participants (60 DRE; 60 controlled epilepsy; 60 healthy controls) recruited from a tertiary hospital. Clinical data and peripheral blood samples were obtained at a single time point. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 11 (CCL11), prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), and other selected inflammatory markers were quantified.

Multivariable regression analyses were used to identify independent associations with DRE and seizure severity. DRE patients exhibited significantly elevated NLR, CCL11 and PGE₂ levels compared with controls. In Firth penalized logistic regression using standardized continuous factors, higher NLR (adjusted OR 7.31, 95% CI 2.00–26.63), CCL11 (adjusted OR 54.97, 95% CI 8.91–339.25), and PGE₂ (adjusted OR 2.51, 95% CI 1.05–5.96) were independently associated with DRE.

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