[Differential diagnostic value of postictal serum prolactin determination]

Determination of serum prolactin concentration was carried out under standardized conditions on 70 hospitalised patients after different types of epileptic, syncopal and psychogenic seizures. In cases of unconsciousness of unknown cause and of unobserved seizures there is evidence that the determination of postictal prolactin may help to clarify the diagnosis. Excluding patients with epileptic seizures due to alcohol withdrawal only in 70% of the patients was there a significant elevation of serum prolactin. The clinical procedure thus appears to be of importance also in the differential diagnosis of psychogenic seizures. Patients with epileptic seizures due to alcohol withdrawal showed an elevated prolactin concentration in only 45% of cases. Whereas an elevated serum prolactin level indicates the occurrence of a grand mal seizure, a normal prolactin level does not positively exclude epileptic seizures.