Serum prolactin and cortisol in children with some paroxysmal disorders

Postictal serum prolactin and cortisol levels were estimated in 73 children having either epilepsy, febrile seizures, breath-holding spells, or fever without other manifestation and in 20 normal controls. Mean serum prolactin levels (28.6±2.3 ng/ml) were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in the epileptic group than in the group with febrile seizures (12.7±2.8 ng/ml), non-specific febrile illness (12.2±2.4 ng/ml), breath-holding spells (8.8±1.1 ng/ml) and normal controls (9.8±2.6 ng/ml) Mean serum cortisol levels were non-specifically elevated in children with epilepsy (32.8±2.2 ug/dl), febrile convulsion (34.2±4.1 ug/dl) and non-specific febrile illness (30.6±2.4 ug/dl). Our observations suggest that elevated prolactin levels associated with afebrile epileptic seizures may help in differentiating epilepsy from febrile seizures and breath-holding spells. Cortisol levels appear to be non-specifically elevated in all stressful conditions.