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Interactions Between Hormones and Epilepsy in Female Patients
Author(s) -
Bauer Jürgen
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
epilepsia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.687
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1528-1167
pISSN - 0013-9580
DOI - 10.1046/j.1528-1157.2001.042suppl.3020.x
Subject(s) - prolactin , epilepsy , endocrinology , hormone , ovulation , medicine , luteinizing hormone , menstrual cycle , ictal , hypothalamus , menstruation , psychiatry
Summary: Epilepsy and epileptic seizures may influence the release of hormones from the hypothalamus and the pituitary. After complex‐partial seizures or generalized tonic–clonic seizures, serum prolactin increases in about two thirds of cases. Apart from this transient effect, interictal epileptic discharges from the temporal lobe may exert a prolonged influence on hormone release. Changes in luteinizing hormone (LH) pulse frequency and increased prolactin levels have been reported. As a consequence, menstrual cycles may be disturbed. The cyclic change of sex serum hormones during the ovulatory menstrual cycle may have an impact on seizure occurrence during the days of ovulation and/or menstruation (e.g., catamenial seizures). By a supplementation of progesterone during the second half of anovulatory cycles, a decrease of seizure frequency can be achieved.