Psychiatry

Answer 3 Serum prolactin level. Epileptic seizures are associated with an elevation in the level of serum prolactin. Studies have found that an increase of 2 to 3 times the normal level of serum prolactin occurs in 90% of patients with generalized tonic-clonic seizures and in 43% to 100% of patients with complex partial seizures. This increase in prolactin does not occur during NES. Blood for measurement of serum prolactin level should be drawn within 30 minutes of seizure onset, and the level obtained should be compared to that obtained from blood drawn 24 hours later, at the same time of day. False-positives may occur, however, as a result of certain medications (eg, dopamine antagonists) or with breast stimulation (eg, breast-feeding, physical manipulation). Click here to return to the questions

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