Nocturnal plasma prolactin rise in patients with complex partial seizures

We measured plasma prolactin and cortisol concentrations in 12 epileptic men with complex partial seizures during all‐night polygraphic recording, with continuous video monitoring and sequential blood sampling at 30‐minute intervals. There was a significant but moderate elevation of all‐night mean plasma prolactin concentration (p < 0.001), but not of cortisol, in epileptics when compared with normal subjects studied in a similar fashion. The data obtained in this environmentally controlled study of males with complex partial seizure disorder indicate a disruption of prolactin regulatory mechanisms resulting in a modest elevation of plasma concentrations independent of ictal electrographic discharges.