Prolactin as a Marker of Active Disease in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Abstract

<i>Objetives. </i>To determine the correlation between prolactin levels and disease activity classified based on the Mexican lupus erythematosus disease systemic activity index (MEX SLEDAI). <i>Methods. </i>In this cross-sectional observational study, serum prolactin, age, sex, treatment, as well as manifestations of active disease were determined. Disease activity was evaluated using the Mexican Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Activity Index (MEX-SLEDAI). The correlation of MEX-SLEDAI with prolactin was determined using the Spearman correlation coefficient. The significance of differences between continuous variables was determined with the non-paired Student’s t test and the significance of differences between categorical variables was determined with Chi-square test. <i>Results. </i>55 patients were included, 10 (18.1%) had MEX-SLEDAI ≥7 and 45 (81.8%) less than 7. A positive correlation was found with a Spearman rho 0.387 (p = 0.004) between the MEX-SLEDAI and the levels serum prolactin. Subjects with active disease and hyperprolactinemia had 80% manifestations at the renal level (p = 0.001). <i>Conclusion. </i>There is significant correlation between prolactin levels and disease activity. Hyperprolactinemia were detected in patients with renal activity as well as those with MEX-SLEDAI ≥7.