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Serum cortisol and prolactin levels in childhood paroxysmal disorders
1Department of Pediatric Neurology, Dokuz Eylül University Medical Faculty, Izmir, Turkey.
Insights
Serum prolactin levels are significantly higher in children with epilepsy compared to febrile seizures or syncope. This finding may help differentiate epilepsy from other seizure-like events in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Distinguishing epilepsy from other episodic events like febrile seizures and syncope in children can be challenging.
- Biomarkers such as serum prolactin and cortisol are sometimes used to aid in diagnosis.
- Previous studies have shown varied results regarding the utility of these markers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and compare postictal serum prolactin and cortisol levels in children with epilepsy, febrile seizures, and syncope.
- To determine if prolactin or cortisol levels can help differentiate epilepsy from other conditions presenting with similar symptoms.
Main Methods:
- Serum prolactin and cortisol levels were measured in 37 children diagnosed with epilepsy, febrile seizures, or syncope.
- A control group of 37 healthy children was included for comparison.
- Blood samples were collected within 1.5 hours after the event.
Main Results:
- Children with epilepsy exhibited significantly higher serum prolactin levels (56.64 +/- 34.78 ng/mL) compared to those with febrile seizures (21.72 +/- 12.92 ng/mL), syncope (13.88 +/- 5.27 ng/mL), and controls (14.32 +/- 5.05 ng/mL).
- Serum cortisol levels were elevated non-specifically across all groups, including epilepsy, febrile seizures, syncope, and controls, suggesting a stress response.
- Elevated prolactin levels showed potential as a differentiator for epilepsy.
Conclusions:
- Postictal serum prolactin levels are significantly elevated in children with epilepsy.
- Elevated prolactin may serve as a useful biomarker to help differentiate epileptic seizures from febrile seizures and syncope in pediatric patients.
- Cortisol elevation appears to be a non-specific response to stressful events.
Abstract:
Postictal serum prolactin and cortisol levels were measured in 37 children having either epilepsy, febrile seizure or syncopal attack and in 37 normal controls. Blood samples were obtained within 1.5 h following the seizure episode. All serum levels were compared between each group and the control groups. Significantly higher (P < 0.005) prolactin levels (56.64 +/- 34.78 ng/mL) were found in the epileptic group, compared to the levels in children with febrile seizures (21.72 +/- 12.92 ng/mL), syncope attacks (13.88 +/- 5.27 ng/mL) and the control group (14.32 +/- 5.05 ng/mL). In contrast, serum cortisol levels were non-specifically elevated in children with epilepsy, febrile seizures and syncopal attacks. Cortisol secretion appears to be non-specifically elevated in all stressful events. Elevated prolactin levels may be helpful in differentiating epilepsy from febrile seizures and syncope.