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Serum prolactin in neonatal seizures
1Department of Pediatrics, Uludağ University Faculty of Medicine, Bursa, Turkey.
Summary
Elevated prolactin levels after neonatal seizures can help differentiate seizure types and identify causes like hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. This neurohormone may serve as a diagnostic aid in neonatal convulsions.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Neurology
- Endocrinology
- Diagnostic Markers
Background:
- Prolactin is a neurohormone known to elevate following seizures.
- Neonatal convulsions require accurate diagnostic tools for timely intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the clinical utility of plasma prolactin measurements in distinguishing neonatal seizures.
- To assess prolactin's role in the differential diagnosis of neonatal convulsions.
Main Methods:
- Included 45 neonates with seizures.
- Collected postictal serum prolactin levels 30 minutes after seizure onset.
- Measured unstimulated serum prolactin levels 24 hours later.
Main Results:
- Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and sepsis were the primary seizure causes.
- Postictal prolactin levels were significantly elevated in HIE, clonic, and tonic seizures compared to unstimulated levels.
- Demonstrated a statistically significant increase in prolactin post-seizure (P < 0.0002 for HIE, P < 0.02 for clonic, P < 0.001 for tonic).
Conclusions:
- Postictal serum prolactin levels can serve as a marker for seizure differentiation and etiological insights in neonates.
- Further research is recommended to establish normal serum prolactin ranges in unstressed newborns.