Serum prolactin in neonatal seizures

Background: Prolactin is the most specific neurohormone that is elevated af ter seizures. This study was undertaken to determine the clinical usefulnes s of plasma prolactin as a diagnostic aid in differential diagnosis of neon atal convulsions. Methods: Forty-five patients followed for seizures were included in the stu dy. Postictal serum prolactin levels were obtained 30 min after the onset o f the seizures. A second sample obtained 24 h later was used to measure an unstimulated serum prolactin level. Results: The most common cause of seizure was hypoxic ischemic encephalopat hy (HIE) followed by sepsis. In patients with HIE, postictal serum prolacti n levels were significantly higher than the unstimulated levels (P < 0.0002 ). Additionally, postictal prolactin levels were significantly higher than the unstimulated levels in clonic (P < 0.02) and tonic convulsions (P < 0.0 01). Conclusions: We conclude that the postictal serum prolactin level may be a marker in the differentiation of seizures as well as providing important in formation about their etiology. Further studies are needed to assess the no rmal range of serum prolactin levels in unstressed newborns.