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Kinetics of Serum Neuron‐Specific Enolase and Prolactin in Patients After Single Epileptic Seizures
Author(s) -
Tumani Hayrettin,
Otto Markus,
Gefeller Olaf,
Wiltfang Jens,
Herrendorf Gregor,
Mogge Sebastian,
Steinhoff Bernhard J.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
epilepsia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.687
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1528-1167
pISSN - 0013-9580
DOI - 10.1111/j.1528-1157.1999.tb00768.x
Subject(s) - prolactin , enolase , medicine , epilepsy , ictal , endocrinology , analysis of variance , hormone , immunohistochemistry , psychiatry
Summary:Purpose: To investigate and compare the temporal profile of serial levels of neuron‐specific enolase (NSE) and prolactin in serum from patients after single epileptic seizures. Methods: Measurement of NSE and prolactin by sensitive immunoassays in 21 patients with complex partial seizure (CPSs; n = 11) and secondarily generalized tonic‐clonic seizures (SGTCSs; n = 10) during continuous video‐EEG monitoring at four different time points (1, 3, 6, and 24 h after ictal event). Statistical analysis was performed by using a repeated‐measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) model. Results: Mean ± SD values for NSE levels (ng/ml) were 12.5 ± 4.4 (1 h), 10.8 ± 3.8 (3 h), 11.1 ± 4.9 (6 h), and 8.2 ± 1.9 (24 h). The corresponding prolactin levels (mU/L) were 1,311 ± 1,034, 232 ± 158, 237 ± 175, and 251 ± 98. There was a significant decrease of NSE and prolactin levels over time (p < 0.001). The pair‐wise comparison of NSE levels showed significant differences between the time points 1 vs. 24 h (p < 0.001), 3 vs. 24 h (p = 0.007), and 6 vs. 24 h (p = 0.009). In contrast, serum prolactin levels showed a significant difference between 1 vs. 3 h (p < 0.001) only. Most of the NSE levels remained normal after CPSs and SGTCSs. At 1 h after the seizure, only 33% of the subjects had increased NSE, whereas abnormal prolactin levels occurred with a sensitivity of 80%. Conclusions: In contrast to prolactin, serum NSE is not a sensitive marker of individual seizures. Only some individuals showed an increase of NSE beyond the prolactin‐sensitive time frame after a single seizure, and mean NSE levels were not significantly increased compared with those of normal controls.