title: The clinical value of serum prolactin measurement in the differential diagnosis of complex partial seizures.
abstract: The time course of changes in serum prolactin after complex partial seizures has been determined and compared to similar changes after other types of seizure and non-epileptic attacks. Seizures in 33 subjects were recorded on video EEG telemetry. Peak serum prolactin concentrations occurred 15-20 min after tonic-clonic seizures, 10 min after complex partial seizures, and were highest after generalised tonic-clonic seizures. Serum prolactin concentrations remained less than 1000 mU/l after absences and non-epileptic attacks. Application of Bayes' theorem showed that where serum prolactin was greater than 1000 mU/l 5-10 min post event this would identify genuine tonic-clonic or complex partial seizures. The false negative rate of this test was 9% for tonic-clonic seizures and 38% for complex partial seizures. Failure of serum prolactin to rise after an attack is of little value in distinguishing complex partial seizures from non-epileptic attacks.
authors.affiliation: Epilepsy Unit, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff U.K.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Wroe
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Henley
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: John
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Richens
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004832:Epilepsy, Absence / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D011388:Prolactin