Abstract | BACKGROUND: METHODS: All the records of consecutive patients admitted to the EMU between 2008 and 2012 were reviewed. Patients with a diagnosis of PNES and ES were selected. Serum prolactin level was obtained within 20 minutes for all patients, and an elevated prolactin level was defined as twice the patient's baseline value. A total of 607 records were reviewed, and 389 patients were excluded because of incomplete information or lack of a clinical event. RESULTS: CONCLUSIONS: Serum prolactin levels do not provide any additional support for distinguishing PNES from ES. Furthermore, serum prolactin levels in this setting add unnecessary blood draws and financial burden for the patients. Therefore, prolactin levels should not be obtained routinely in the EMU. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study provides Class III evidence that postevent elevation of serum prolactin occurs in 84.4% of patients with ES and 28.8% of patients with PNES.
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Authors | Abuhuziefa Abubakr, Ilse Wambacq |
Journal | Neurology. Clinical practice
(Neurol Clin Pract)
Vol. 6
Issue 2
Pg. 116-119
(Apr 2016)
ISSN: 2163-0402 [Print] United States |
PMID | 29377044
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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