Changes in the level of ciliary neurotrophic factor are related to the degree of severity of epilepsy

Abstract

The level of ciliary neurotrophic factor was measured in the blood serum of women with epilepsy. The level of the ciliary neurotrophic factor increased in accordance with the severity of the disease: from 14.34 pg/mL (slowly progressing) to 32.13 pg/mL (the progressing form of the illness), while healthy persons had a level of 3.4 pg/mL. It may be hypothesized that ciliary neurotrophic factor generated in response to pathological process is immediately released into the blood through a damaged blood–brain barrier.