title: Abnormal pattern of luteinizing hormone pulsatility in women with epilepsy.
abstract: Dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis in epileptic females has been suggested in the latest years. To further elucidate this issue, we assessed reproductive endocrine function in 10 normally cycling, drug-free epileptic women and in 5 normal controls, evaluating the basal hormonal profile and luteinizing hormone (LH) pulsatility in the midfollicular phase. Luteinizing hormone pulse frequency was significantly higher in epileptic women with a consequent reduction of the LH interpulse interval. We suggest that epilepsy may interfere with the functional activity of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone pulse generator. The pathogenetic mechanisms for this phenomenon may be the spreading of paroxysmal activity within the hypothalamic areas or, alternatively, a neurotransmitter dysfunction giving rise both to the seizure disorder and to the abnormal LH pulsatile pattern.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Naples, 2nd School of Medicine, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bilo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Valentino
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Buscaino
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Striano
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nappi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D011673:Pulsatile Flow
chemical_list: D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone