STUDY OF SERUM PROLACTIN LEVELS & ELECTROLYTE PANEL IN PATIENTS WITH NEW ONSET SEIZURES

Background: Epilepsy is a group of long-term neurological disorders characterized by epileptic seizures [3]. Prolactin in serum transiently increased in early epileptogenesis. Serum Prolactin levels are elevated following generalized motor seizures in approximately 90% of cases, and following complex partial seizures in about 70% of cases. The body electrolytes sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), calcium (Ca2+), and magnesium (Mg2+) and the level of some trace elements play a vital role in seizure condition to develop. Aim: To evaluate the role of prolactin and electrolytes (sodium, potassium, calcium & magnesium) levels in types of seizures & to differentiate true seizures from non epileptic seizures. Patients & Methods: Study includes 50 patients of new onset seizure & 50 controls. Serum Prolactin was estimated using ELISA method & serum electrolytes were also estimated. Data were compared by using ‘t’ test. Pearson’s correlation was done to see the changes among the markers. Results: Only patients with Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizure & Complex Partial Seizures had highly raised Prolactin. A decrease in Sodium, Calcium, Magnesium levels & nearly normal Potassium levels were found in all types of seizures except pseudo seizures in which electrolytes (Na+,K+,Ca2+,Mg2+) showed no significant change. Conclusion: Prolactin estimation can be a useful biomarker to differentiate Epileptic seizures from Pseudoseizures.