Serum Uric Acid as a Predictive Factor for Rotaviral or Noroviral Benign Convulsions with Mild Gastroenteritis

Purpose: This study investigated the relationship between serum uric acid levels and benign convulsions with mild gastroenteritis (CwG) caused by rotavirus and norovirus. Methods: This retrospective study identified 89 patients with CwG at Inha University Hospital from January 1999 to December 2019. We analyzed serum uric acid levels in patients with CwG and in patients with acute gastroenteritis without seizures according to the causative virus. Results: Among the 2,790 patients with rotavirus or norovirus gastroenteritis, 89 patients (3.2%) were diagnosed with CwG. The serum uric acid levels were significantly higher in CwG patients than in acute gastroenteritis patients (8.20±2.34 mg/dL vs. 5.44±2.69 mg/dL, P<0.001). When examined according to the virus type, serum uric acid levels were higher in the CwG group than in the acute gastroenteritis group in patients with rotavirus (8.05±2.48 mg/dL vs. 5.48±2.78 mg/dL) and norovirus (8.43±2.13 mg/dL vs. 5.31±2.36 mg/dL) infections (P<0.001). However, there were no significant differences in uric acid levels between patients with CwG caused by rotavirus and those with CwG caused by norovirus. Conclusion: Patients with CwG, caused either by rotavirus or norovirus, showed significantly higher serum uric acid levels than those with acute gastroenteritis without seizures. Elevated serum uric acid levels could be a useful indicator for diagnosing CwG.