Serum prolactin, cortisol and growth hormone concentrations after various epileptic seizures.

The serial serum concentrations of prolactin (PRL), cortisol and growth hormone (GH) were measured after clinical fits of seizures in 49 epileptic patients, aged 13-77. In generalized tonic-clonic seizures, both the serum PRL and cortisol levels transiently rose and reached their maximum 30 min after the onset of clinical fits. Serum GHs were elevated in some of the patients. After complex partial seizures, significant rises were found only in serum cortisol, but no demonstrable change was observed in PRL and GH. In the other minor seizure group, no remarkable change was observed in any of the hormones. These results suggest that the postictal hormonal change is different in each type of seizure, respectively.