PROLACTIN SECRETION FOLLOWING REPETITIVE SEIZURES

We studied serum prolactin levels after 24 seizures occurring in eight subjects, Video-EEG intracranial monitoring confirmed temporal or fro ntal partial seizures, Seizure type, focus, and duration were similar for seizures with and without significant postictal prolactin elevatio ns. The seizure-free interval (the time between seizures) varied consi derably. Seizures occurring after longer seizure-free intervals (31.75 to 240 hours) showed robust prolactin responses, After shorter seizur e-free intervals (1.07 to 25.42 hours), prolactin responses were reduc ed. This suggests that the amount of releasable prolactin is limited, depleted by seizures, or perhaps inhibited by prolactin feedback. Seiz ure-free intervals should be considered when interpreting prolactin le vels.