title: Serum cortisol and prolactin levels in childhood paroxysmal disorders.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Neurology, Dokuz Eylül University Medical Faculty, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dirik
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sen
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Anal
authors.forename: N T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Cevik
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D007223:Infant; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D012640:Seizures / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D003294:Seizures, Febrile / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D013575:Syncope / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D011388:Prolactin; D006854:Hydrocortisone