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Serum prolactin and cortisol in children with some paroxysmal disorders
Insights
Elevated serum prolactin levels in children with epilepsy can help differentiate it from febrile seizures and breath-holding spells. Cortisol levels were elevated in all stressful conditions, indicating non-specific stress responses.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Differentiating epilepsy from other childhood seizure disorders is clinically important.
- Biomarkers for seizure types can aid in diagnosis and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate postictal serum prolactin and cortisol levels in children.
- To determine if these hormone levels can differentiate epilepsy from febrile seizures and breath-holding spells.
Main Methods:
- Serum prolactin and cortisol levels were measured in 73 children with epilepsy, febrile seizures, breath-holding spells, or fever, and 20 controls.
- Statistical analysis was performed to compare hormone levels between groups.
Main Results:
- Epileptic children showed significantly higher mean serum prolactin levels (28.6 ng/ml) compared to febrile seizures (12.7 ng/ml), fever (12.2 ng/ml), breath-holding spells (8.8 ng/ml), and controls (9.8 ng/ml).
- Mean serum cortisol levels were elevated non-specifically across epilepsy (32.8 ug/dl), febrile convulsions (34.2 ug/dl), and febrile illness (30.6 ug/dl).
Conclusions:
- Elevated postictal prolactin levels in afebrile epileptic seizures may serve as a diagnostic aid.
- Cortisol elevation appears to be a non-specific response to various stressful conditions, including seizures.
Abstract:
Postictal serum prolactin and cortisol levels were estimated in 73 children having either epilepsy, febrile seizures, breath-holding spells, or fever without other manifestation and in 20 normal controls. Mean serum prolactin levels (28.6 +/- 2.3 ng/ml) were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in the epileptic group than in the group with febrile seizures (12.7 +/- 2.8 ng/ml), non-specific febrile illness (12.2 +/- 2.4 ng/ml), breath-holding spells (8.8 +/- 1.1 ng/ml) and normal controls (9.8 +/- 2.6 ng/ml). Mean serum cortisol levels were non-specifically elevated in children with epilepsy (32.8 +/- 2.2 ug/dl), febrile convulsion (34.2 +/- 4.1 ug/dl) and non-specific febril illness (30.6 +/- 2.4 ug/dl). Our observations suggest that elevated prolactin levels associated with afebrile epileptic seizures may help in differentiating epilepsy from febrile seizures and breath-holding spells. Cortisol levels appear to be non-specifically elevated in all stressful conditions.