Elevated Serum Prolactin Levels Research Articles

Serum Prolactin as a Marker of the Severity of Liver Cirrhosis in a Tertiary Hospital in India: A Cross-Sectional Study.

In India, cirrhosis is becoming a growing concern, leading to an unmet need for new non-invasive markers to assess the severity of liver disease. Serum prolactin is one such marker. To determine the association between serum prolactin, the severity of liver cirrhosis, and its complications such as ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, and esophageal varices. This cross-sectional study involved 117 patients with liver cirrhosis. They were evaluated for some complications such as ascites, esophageal varices, and hepatic encephalopathy, as well as for severity by using the Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score. Serum prolactin levels were measured, and their relationship with both the severity and complications of liver cirrhosis was determined. A P value of < 0.05 was considered significant. The mean age of the patients was 48.3 ± 12.08 years, and the majority (80.3%) were males. Seventy-one percent of the patients had elevated serum prolactin levels (>19.40 ng/mL). Elevated serum prolactin was found in approximately 95.0% and 86.8% of patients with hepatic encephalopathy and ascites, respectively. The median serum prolactin levels were significantly associated with esophageal varices grades (P = 0.043) and hepatic encephalopathy (P < 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of serum prolactin for predicting severe CTP scores were 81.6% and 91.2%, respectively, with a diagnostic accuracy of 87.2%. On multivariate regression analysis, ascites (AOR = 3.8, 95%CI = 1.29-10.98, P = 0.015), hepatic encephalopathy (AOR = 6.1, 95%CI = 0.68-53.78, P = 0.012), CTP class B (AOR = 5.9, 95%CI = 1.39-24.68, P = 0.016), and CTP class C (AOR = 13.4, 95%CI = 2.25-82.21, P = 0.004) were significantly associated with elevated serum prolactin levels. There was a significant association between serum prolactin levels and CTP classes, esophageal varices, ascites, and hepatic encephalopathy in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Metabolic and inflammatory parameters in relation to baseline characterization and treatment outcome in patients with prolactinoma: insights from a retrospective cohort study at a single tertiary center.

Prolactinomas (PRLs) are prevalent pituitary adenomas associated with metabolic changes and increased cardiovascular morbidity. This study examined clinical, endocrine, metabolic, and inflammatory profiles in PRL patients, aiming to identify potential prognostic markers. The study comprised data from 59 PRL patients gathered in a registry at the University Hospital of Zurich. Diagnostic criteria included MRI findings and elevated serum prolactin levels. We assessed baseline and follow-up clinical demographics, metabolic markers, serum inflammation-based scores, and endocrine parameters. Treatment outcomes were evaluated based on prolactin normalization, tumor shrinkage, and cabergoline dosage. The PRL cohort exhibited a higher prevalence of overweight/obesity, prediabetes/diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia compared to the general population. Significant correlations were found between PRL characteristics and BMI, HbA1c, and fT4 levels. Follow-up data indicated decreases in tumor size, tumor volume, prolactin levels, and LDL-cholesterol, alongside increases in fT4 and sex hormones levels. No significant associations were observed between baseline parameters and tumor shrinkage at follow-up. A positive association was noted between PRL size/volume and the time to achieve prolactin normalization, and a negative association with baseline fT4 levels. This study underscores the metabolic significance of PRL, with notable correlations between PRL parameters and metabolic indices. However, inflammatory markers were not significantly correlated with patient stratification or outcome prediction. These findings highlight the necessity for standardized follow-up protocols and further research into the metabolic pathogenesis in PRL patients.

Revealing Sexual Dimorphism in Prolactin Regulation From Early Postnatal Development to Adulthood in Murine Models.

Serum prolactin (PRL) levels exhibit a gradual rise both in male and female rats from birth to adulthood, with females consistently displaying higher levels compared to age-matched males. This pattern has traditionally been attributed to the development and maturation of endocrine and neuroendocrine networks responsible for regulating PRL synthesis and secretion. However, the effect of dopamine (DA), which acts as an inhibitory factor on lactotroph function, also increases from birth to puberty, particularly in females. Nonetheless, the secretion of PRL remains higher in females compared to males. On the other hand, the observed sex differences in serum PRL levels during early postnatal development cannot be attributed to the influence of estradiol (E2). While serum E2 levels gradually increase after birth, only after 45 days of life do the disparities in E2 levels between females and males become evident. These observations collectively suggest that neither the maturation of hypothalamic DA regulation nor the rise in E2 levels can account for the progressive and sustained elevation in serum PRL levels and the observed sexual dimorphism during postnatal development. This review highlights the importance of recent discoveries in animal models that shed light on inhibitory mechanisms in the control of PRL secretion within the pituitary gland itself, that is intrapituitary mechanisms, with a specific emphasis on the role of transforming growth factor β1 and activins in PRL secretion.

Verification of Roche reference ranges for serum prolactin in children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly

Reference intervals (RIs) for prolactin are of high clinical importance for diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of hypothalamic-pituitary disorders. The aim of this study was to verify the Roche reference ranges for serum prolactin in children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly. : An indirect method based on currently laboratory data was used on the reference ranges. Nine thousand one hundred and thirteen prolactin results were included. Pregnancy, lactation, exercise and reported pathologies were ruled out and only samples were collected between 8AM and 12PM were used. Reference ranges with a confidence interval of 95% (95% CI) were estimated. : Compared to the manufacturer's reference values and for the corresponding age group, the median values obtained in our study were 10 – 60% higher depending on the age and sex of the patients. Elevated levels of serum prolactin were observed in the neonatal period and values decrease until median values near 200 mUI/L in childhood. During the children's period, no gender differences were observed for prolactin level. The gender difference in prolactin levels became significant from pre-adolescence until the age of 60. Prolactin levels increased significantly (p&amp;#60;0.001) between children and young adults, followed by a gradual and continuous decrease until young senior age.: The prolactin reference values proposed by the manufacturer in the data sheet appeared unsuitable. Laboratories should review reference ranges, and a partitioning with sex and different age groups may be appropriate.

A giant invasive macroprolactinoma with recurrent nasal bleeding as the first clinical presentation: case report and review of literature

BackgroundGiant prolactinoma (> 4 cm in dimension) is a rare disorder. Invasive macroprolactinoma has the potential to cause base of skull erosion and extend into the nasal cavity or even the sphenoid sinus. Nasal bleeding caused by intranasal tumor extension is a rare complication associated with invasive giant prolactinoma.We report a case of giant invasive macroprolactinoma with repeated nasal bleeding as the initial symptom.Case presentationA 24-year-old man with an invasive giant prolactinoma in the nasal cavity and sellar region who presented with nasal bleeding as the initial symptom, misdiagnosed as olfactory neuroblastoma. However, markedly elevated serum prolactin levels (4700 ng/mL), and a 7.8-cm invasive sellar mass confirmed the diagnosis of invasive giant prolactinoma. He was treated with oral bromocriptine. Serum prolactin was reduced to near normal after 6 months of treatment. Follow-up magnetic resonance imaging showed that the sellar lesion had disappeared completely and the skull base lesions were reduced.ConclusionThis case is notable in demonstrating the aggressive nature of untreated invasive giant prolactinomas which can cause a diagnostic difficulty with potential serious consequences. Early detection of hormonal levels can avoid unnecessary nasal biopsy. Early identification of pituitary adenoma with nasal bleeding as the first symptom is particularly important.

Abstract #1413579: Rathke Cleft Cyst Unveiling Incidental Prolactin Producing Adenoma

Rathke cleft cysts (RCCs) are benign sellar and or/suprasellar lesions that arise from remnants of Rathke's pouch. Pituitary hormonal dysfunction associated with RCCs most often present as hormonal deficiencies due to compression. However pituitary hyper-secretion may coexist with RCC challenging diagnosis and management. A 37-year-old female presented with worsening headache, bilateral blurry vision and pressure-like eye pain for two weeks. She denied any galactorrhea or irregular periods. Her medications included as-needed butalbital-acetaminophen-caffeine and alprazolam. CT Head without IV contrast revealed a pituitary lesion measuring 1.9 cm extending near the inferior margin of the optic chiasm. Subsequent MRI Pituitary with and without IV contrast revealed an enhancing sellar/suprasellar solid lesion measuring 1.6 x 2.7 x 1.9 cm with small hypoenhancing components associated with expansion of the sella, rightward infundibulum deviation, mass effect on the optic chiasm and left cavernous sinus invasion. Pituitary secretion workup revealed an elevated serum prolactin level of 50.4 ng/mL (range 4.8 - 23.3 ng/mL). Repeat prolactin level was 75.7 mg/ml. Dilution studies 1:10 and 1:100 revealed prolactin levels of 78.3 ng/mL and 75.9 ng/mL respectively; absence of hook effect. Her elevated prolactin was attributed to stalk effect given the large size of her sellar mass and relatively minimally elevated prolactin level. Serum Alpha Subunit, ILGF-1, TSH, FT4, LF, FSH, AM cortisol and ACTH level were all normal. She underwent endoscopic transsphenoidal pituitary mass resection with pathology results revealing prolactin producing adenoma and RCC. Immunostains were strongly positive for chromogranin A and prolactin while negative for FSH, ACTH, TSH, beta hCG, GH. Prolactin levels 11 days post-resection remained elevated at 50.7 ng/mL. She continued to have regular periods without galactorrhea. Additionally, she expressed desire to attain pregnancy. This case illustrates the presence of a secreting pituitary prolactinoma in the setting of an RCC. Whether these two entities share a common pathophysiology or simply co-exist is unknown. In one study of 33 surgically treated RCC at presentation, 60% had gonadotroph deficiency, 36% had ACTH deficiency, 36% had TSH deficiency, 18% had ADH deficiency and 31% had hyperprolactinemia (1). It is possible that the majority of this patient 's sellar mass was comprised of RCC as a much higher prolactin level would have been expect for the size of her mass. Interesting, her sellar mass exhibited enhancement which is uncharacteristic for RCC, classical described as cystic lesions without calcification or enhancement. Given that her post-resection prolactin level remained elevated and she desires pregnancy, she may require dopamine agonist therapy.

Screening for possible hypopituitarism following mild traumatic brain injury: The first all-female study. Who do we need to evaluate further?

Studies on hypopituitarism (HP) following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) have focused on male populations although women may be more susceptible to the sequelae of mTBI. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first all-female study screening for HP following mTBI. Screening for possible HP in female athletes reporting a history of one or more mTBI. Pituitary hormone screening blood tests (SBT) were performed in 133 of the 151 female athletes included. Repeated results outside the reference value (O-RV) were considered abnormal necessitating further endocrinological evaluation. Repeated SBT were O-RV in 88 women (66.2%). Decreased levels of serum insulin growth factor 1 (S-IGF1) were found in 55.6% of participants and elevated levels of serum prolactin (S-prolactin) in 22.6%. Serum cortisol levels were below the RV in 6.0% and thyroid hormonal levels in 11.3%. Lower age and increased number of mTBI symptoms correlated significantly with the risk of hormonal results O-RV. The majority of the study population had SBT O-RV, warranting further workup of possible HP. Decreased levels of S-IGF1 were most commonly observed followed by elevated S-prolactin possibly indicating hypothalamic-pituitary impairment. Lower age and increased number of symptoms of mTBI may indicate the need to screen for HP.

Integrating machine learning with electronic health record data to facilitate detection of prolactin level and pharmacovigilance signals in olanzapine-treated patients.

Background and aimAvailable evidence suggests elevated serum prolactin (PRL) levels in olanzapine (OLZ)-treated patients with schizophrenia. However, machine learning (ML)-based comprehensive evaluations of the influence of pathophysiological and pharmacological factors on PRL levels in OLZ-treated patients are rare. We aimed to forecast the PRL level in OLZ-treated patients and mine pharmacovigilance information on PRL-related adverse events by integrating ML and electronic health record (EHR) data.MethodsData were extracted from an EHR system to construct an ML dataset in 672×384 matrix format after preprocessing, which was subsequently randomly divided into a derivation cohort for model development and a validation cohort for model validation (8:2). The eXtreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) algorithm was used to build the ML models, the importance of the features and predictive behaviors of which were illustrated by SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP)-based analyses. The sequential forward feature selection approach was used to generate the optimal feature subset. The co-administered drugs that might have influenced PRL levels during OLZ treatment as identified by SHAP analyses were then compared with evidence from disproportionality analyses by using OpenVigil FDA.ResultsThe 15 features that made the greatest contributions, as ranked by the mean (|SHAP value|), were identified as the optimal feature subset. The features were gender_male, co-administration of risperidone, age, co-administration of aripiprazole, concentration of aripiprazole, concentration of OLZ, progesterone, co-administration of sulpiride, creatine kinase, serum sodium, serum phosphorus, testosterone, platelet distribution width, α-L-fucosidase, and lipoprotein (a). The XGBoost model after feature selection delivered good performance on the validation cohort with a mean absolute error of 0.046, mean squared error of 0.0036, root-mean-squared error of 0.060, and mean relative error of 11%. Risperidone and aripiprazole exhibited the strongest associations with hyperprolactinemia and decreased blood PRL according to the disproportionality analyses, and both were identified as co-administered drugs that influenced PRL levels during OLZ treatment by SHAP analyses.ConclusionsMultiple pathophysiological and pharmacological confounders influence PRL levels associated with effective treatment and PRL-related side-effects in OLZ-treated patients. Our study highlights the feasibility of integration of ML and EHR data to facilitate the detection of PRL levels and pharmacovigilance signals in OLZ-treated patients.

Worsening of Migraine Associated with Hyperprolactinemia

A 45-year-old woman presented with worsening of migraine without aura. Laboratory test revealed hyperprolactinemia, but brain magnetic resonance imaging was normal. She had no known etiologies of hyperprolactinemia. Headache improved together with normalization of serum prolactin level after administration of bromocriptine. However, withdrawal of bromocriptine caused elevation of serum prolactin level and worsening of migraine headache. She repeated similar pattern of improvement and aggravation two times more. We suggest that hyperprolactinemia may cause aggravation of migraine headache.

A Case-control Study of Sexual Dysfunction and Serum Prolactin Levels in Patients with Psychotic Disorders

Introduction: Sexual functioning has remained widely neglected aspect of patient care for those suffering from severe mental disorders and has received little attention. Yet, it has been construed as one of the major factors contributing to nonadherence with antipsychotic medications. Aim: To study sexual dysfunction in patients with psychotic disorders and its clinical association with serum prolactin levels. Materials and Methods: This case-control study was conducted in the Department of Psychiatry at MGM Medical College and associated Mental Hospital, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India, from 13th February 2020 to 21st January 2021. The study sample consisted of 200 subjects including 100 cases and 100 controls. The case group included patients with a diagnosis of psychotic disorders currently in remission for at least 1 month. Remission of the patients was ensured by Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) with a score of &lt;4 on all items and &lt;28 total score. Assessment of sexual dysfunction was done using Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX). The control group included healthy subjects aged between 18-65 years, either sex having active sexual partners with a score of &lt; 3 on all the items of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). Collection of blood sample was done and serum was analyzed for prolactin levels using the Chemiluminescent Microparticle Immunoassay (CMIA) method. Statistical analysis was done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 28.0 (SPSS) for windows. Results: The mean age of the case group was 39.9±7.457 years while that of the control group was 35.60±9.37 years. The number of male patients (71% and 73%) was higher than females (29% and 27%) in the control group and case group respectively. The difference between the two were statistically significant. The total number of cases who experienced sexual dysfunction came out to be 59 out of 100. Total 55.93% of those having sexual dysfunction were suffering from difficulty in sexual arousal, followed by difficulty with penile erection/vaginal lubrication (49.15%), orgasmic dysfunction (34.48%), and reduced sexual drive (23.72%). Among the cases, the mean serum prolactin level (14.14±10.60 ng/mL) was seen to be significantly higher (p-value &lt;0.001) than the control group (9.46±6.05 ng/mL). Maximum serum prolactin level (29.00±9.95 ng/mL) was seen to be associated with usage of a combination of both 1st and 2nd generation antipsychotics. Conclusion: There was a significant prevalence of sexual dysfunction in psychotic patients and is associated significantly with elevated serum prolactin levels.

The Expression of Prolactin Receptors in Benign Breast Tumors Is Not Associated with Serum Prolactin Level.

The role of prolactin (PRL) and its receptors in the initiation and development of benign breast tumors (BBT) has not been sufficiently studied. An imbalance in the system of hormone homeostasis is crucial in the development of BBT. In particular, an association between elevated prolactin levels and the development of BBT has been reported. Our study showed no significant differences between PRL receptor (PRL-R) expression in BBT tissue under normal and elevated serum PRL levels. There was also no significant correlation between age, PRL-R expression in BBT tissue, intact tissue, and PRL level in the serum. There was a strong significant correlation (p < 0.01; r = 0.92) between PRL-R expression in BBT samples and intact breast tissue, which did not depend on the serum PRL level. There was also no significant difference in the expression of the proliferative marker Ki-67 in BBT tissues from women with normal and elevated levels of serum PRL (p > 0.05). No signs of PRL and its receptors were detected in the BBT cystic fluid women with elevated serum PRL levels. In summary, our prospective study showed that the expression of PRL-R in the tissue of BBT and physiological breast tissue does not depend on the level of serum PRL.

P.0575 DRD2/ANKK1 Taq1A polymorphism is associated with elevated serum prolactin levels during haloperidol treatment in schizophrenia spectrum disorders patients

P.0575 DRD2/ANKK1 Taq1A polymorphism is associated with elevated serum prolactin levels during haloperidol treatment in schizophrenia spectrum disorders patients

Impact of Serum Prolactin and Testosterone Levels on Male Infertility in Sulaimanyah City

The appropriateness of the interactions between Prolactin, gonadotrophins and testicular hormones ensures that normal spermatogenesis takes place in the male. So this study is an attempt to classify male infertility depending on WHO criteria of seminal changes and to evaluate serum Prolactin, Testosterone FSH and LH levels in the participants, also determine the association between serum Prolactin, Testosterone levels and subtypes of male infertility. This study involved three hundred infertile males having infertility more than one year (cases group) and three hundred age-matched fertile males with definite paternity in past two years (control group) were included to the study from Jan 2018 -Dec 2020 at Shahid Ali Qader consultant clinic in the Sulaimanyah city. Serum levels of hormones were measured by electrochemiluminescense immunoassay technique. Approximately half of patient's age ranged between 30- 39 years. Sixty eight percentage of cases complained from primary infertility. About 71.3% of patients had infertility duration between 1 - 5 years. This percentage decreased with increasing the infertility years. Most common infertile group was Asthenospermia (34.3%). A higher significant levels of serum Prolactin, FSH and LH found in cases than controls (p<0.001). However, the serum Testosterone levels was significantly lower in cases than controls (p<0.05). Moreover, serum Prolactin levels were found significantly elevated in all infertile subgroups (except Normospermic subgroup) compared to control group, while serum Testosterone levels were significantly decreased in all infertile subgroups (except Normospermic subgroup) compared to control group (p<0.05). So we conclude that; Poor spermatogenesis is associated with high serum Prolactin, FSH,LH levels and low serum Testosterone levels in patients with male infertility. Moreover, elevated serum Prolactin levels and decreased serum Testosterone levels were significantly associated with A, AT, OAT, Azoo and OA infertile males. Keywords: Male infertility, primary and secondary infertility, Prolactin, Testosterone, spermatogenesis.

The Vanishing Pituitary Tumor: A Case Report

Prolactinomas are the most common functional pituitary tumors and present with elevated serum prolactin levels. This may or may not be accompanied by mass-related clinical symptoms. Dopamine agonists are its principal treatment. Data on prolactinoma remission and relapse after treatment withdrawal are limited. Here we report a patient presenting with headache, amenorrhea, galactorrhea, visual field impairments and a high serum prolactin level. After a definitive diagnosis of pituitary macroadenoma, the patient was treated with bromocriptine. Twelve months after treatment, tumor size markedly reduced, there was resolution of symptoms and patient was eventually lost to follow-up. After 10 months without treatment, tumor recurred. Bromocriptine was resumed for 5 more years and discontinued thereafter. Since then, the patient has been asymptomatic for the past 12 years; surveillance imaging showed no tumor recurrence with annual prolactin level all within normal range. This case adds to the limited data confirming that dopamine agonists in patients with prolactinomas can be successfully discontinued with a high remission rate, provided that there is adequate duration of treatment and sufficient follow-up. J Endocrinol Metab. 2021;11(3-4):91-93 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jem753

Recurrent Galactorrhoea: A consequence of unheeded primary hypothyroidism

Background: Primary hypothyroidism can lead to hyperprolactinemia through several mechanisms in both men and women, manifesting as galactorrhoea, loss of libido, and infertility in both sexes, as oligomenorrhea/amenorrhea in women, and as gynecomastia and erectile dysfunction in men. Case presentation: Here presented is a 28-year-old Nigerian woman with a history of recurrent bilateral painless galactorrhoea of 12 years’ duration and persistent low mood. Physical examination was unremarkable. The hormonal assay revealed elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone, elevated serum prolactin, low thyroxine, and low triiodothyronine levels. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed normal findings. A diagnosis of hyperprolactinemia secondary to primary hypothyroidism was made. Pharmacological therapy began with thyroid hormone replacement therapy and a dopamine agonist: 75 micrograms of levothyroxine daily and 0.5 micrograms of cabergoline twice weekly for 8 weeks. After 8 weeks of pharmacological therapy, hormonal assay revealed values within the reference range with significant symptomatic improvement evidenced by cessation of galactorrhoea and low mood. Conclusion: Primary hypothyroidism has been proven to be one of the numerous causes of hyperprolactinemia and it could be unheeded in a patient who does not present with the typical signs and symptoms of primary hypothyroidism.

The Clinical Significance and Utility of Routine Screening for Macroprolactin in Patients With Hyperprolactinemia

Background: Macroprolactin is a complex of monomeric prolactin (PRL) molecules with immunoglobulin G (IgG) that can result in the elevation of serum prolactin level. Macroprolactin is biologically less active and failure to screen for macroprolactin may lead to unnecessary investigations and treatments in patients with hyperprolactinaemia. Aim: We sought to evaluate the clinical significance and clinical utility of routine screening of macroprolactin in patients with hyperprolactinemia. Methods: We analysed 141 patients from a retrospective database of patients with elevated serum prolactin in Changi General Hospital from Jan 2017 to Dec 2019 with routine screening of macroprolactin with polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation using Abbott Architect Prolactin assay. Clinical, biochemical, radiological data and medication usage were extracted from electronic medical records. Macroprolactinaemia was defined as a PRL recovery of < 60%. Approval was obtained from the local research ethics committee. Results: Thirty-six (26%) patients had macroprolactinaemia with a male predominance (72%). There were no significant differences in the presence of symptoms, the percentages of medication-induced hyperprolactinemia, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) pituitary scans done between patients with macroprolactinaemia and those with truly elevated serum prolactin. As such clinical features might not be useful to differentiate patients with macroprolactinaemia. Eight MRI pituitary scans were performed in patients with macroprolactinaemia and pituitary abnormalities were detected in 4 of the patients which are likely non-functioning pituitary lesions. As such, not only were unnecessary scans done but it also led to a cascade of further investigations. Eight patients had simultaneous macroprolactinaemia and elevated bioactive serum prolactin, as such post-PEG prolactin level with corresponding reference ranges rather than the percentage recovery should be use as the threshold for defining macroprolactinaemia to avoid misdiagnosis. Conclusion: Macroprolactinaemia is common and routine screening may avert unnecessary investigations. Post-PEG prolactin level with corresponding reference ranges should be used as diagnostic threshold.

Is Adjunct Aripiprazole Effective in Treating Hyperprolactinemia Induced by Psychotropic Medication? A Narrative Review.

Psychotropic medication treatment can cause elevated serum prolactin levels and hyperprolactinaemia (HPRL). Reports have suggested that aripiprazole may decrease elevated prolactin. The aim of this review was to assess evidence for the efficacy of adjunct aripiprazole in the treatment of psychotropic-induced HPRL. PubMed and Google Scholar were searched to identify randomised placebo-controlled trials (RCTs) of adjunct aripiprazole in patients with HPRL attributed to primary psychotropic medications. Data for individual patients from case studies, chart reviews and open-label studies were also identified and assessed. Six RCTs, with a total of 609 patients, met inclusion criteria. Primary psychotropics included risperidone, haloperidol, paliperidone, fluphenazine and loxapine. Reductions in prolactin from baseline, before the introduction of aripiprazole, were significantly greater for adjunct aripiprazole than for adjunct placebo in all the studies (p=0.04 to p<0.0001). Normalisation of serum prolactin levels was significantly more likely with adjunct aripiprazole than adjunct placebo (p=0.028 to p<0.001, data from three studies). Improvement or resolution of HPRL-related symptoms (galactorrhoea, oligomenorrhoea, amenorrhoea and sexual dysfunction) were reported in three studies. Prolactin levels decreased in all case reports and in both of two open-label studies; they normalised in 30/41 patients (73.2%) in case studies and 12/29 (41.4%) in the open-label studies. Adjunct aripiprazole was statistically significantly effective in treating elevated serum prolactin levels in six RCTs. Evidence from case reports and open-label studies suggests a degree of effectiveness in most patients.

Sexually dimorphic effects of prolactin treatment on the onset of puberty and olfactory function in mice

The onset of puberty is associated with the psychophysiological maturation of the adolescent to an adult capable of reproduction when olfactory signals play an important role. This period begins with the secretion of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from GnRH neurons within the hypothalamus. This is regulated by kisspeptin neurons that express high levels of transmembrane prolactin receptors (PRLR) that bind to and are activated by prolactin (PRL). The elevated levels of serum PRL found during lactation, or caused by chronic PRL infusion, decreases the secretion of gonadotropins and kisspeptin and compromised the estrous cyclicity and the ovulation. In the present work, we aimed to evaluate the effects of either increased or decreased PRL circulating levels within the peripubertal murine brain by administration of PRL or treatment with cabergoline (Cab) respectively. We showed that either treatment delayed the onset of puberty in females, but not in males. This was associated with the augmentation of the PRL receptor (Prlr) mRNA expression in the arcuate nucleus and decreased Kiss1 expression in the anteroventral periventricular zone. Then, during adulthood, we assessed the activation of the mitral and granular cells of the main (MOB) and accessory olfactory bulb (AOB) by cFos immunoreactivity (ir) after the exposure to soiled bedding of the opposite sex. In the MOB, the PRL treatment promoted an increased cFos-ir of the mitral cells of males and females. In the granular cells of male of either treatment an augmented activation was observed. In the AOB, an impaired cFos-ir was observed in PRL and Cab treated females after exposure to male soiled bedding. However, in males, only Cab impaired its activation. No effects were observed in the AOB-mitral cells. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that PRL contributes to pubertal development and maturation of the MOB-AOB during the murine juvenile period in a sex-dependent way.

Assessing the role of serum prolactin levels and coding region somatic mutations of the prolactin gene in Saudi uterine leiomyoma patients

IntroductionUterine leiomyomas (UL) are highly prevalent benign smooth muscle tumors, seen in approximately 70% of women. These hormone re- sponsive tumors are also known to secrete prolactin (PRL), a hormone of the anterior pituitary gland. Elevated levels of serum prolactin are a com- mon clinical finding in different gynecological pathologies including UL. However, the underlying causes for this elevation are not yet clear. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to measure the serum PRL in UL patients and also to investigate its molecular connection with coding region somatic mutations of the PRL gene.Material and methodsThe serum PRL levels of UL patients were measured through the ELISA method. The coding region PRL gene mutations in UL and corresponding myometrium tissues were screened through the Sanger sequencing method.ResultsUterine leiomyoma patients demonstrated significant elevation of the PRL hormone level in serum samples (p ≤ 0.01). No somatic coding re- gion mutations in the PRL gene were identified. However, four germline vari- ants (c.570G&gt;A, c.205-102T&gt;A, c.312+177T&gt;C and c.269C&gt;T) were detected.ConclusionsThis study is the first one to confirm that serum PRL level ele- vation among UL patients is not connected to somatic mutations in the PRL gene. However, PRL genetic polymorphisms may indirectly contribute to the disease etiology.

Clinical significance of serum prolactin levels in patients with alopecia areata

Objectives To assess the value of elevated serum prolactin levels as a diagnostic marker in alopecia areata (AA). Background AA is characterized by areas of nonscarring hair loss that ranges from a single oval patch to multiple patches. Immunological, environmental, psychological, and genetic factors may play a role in the pathogenesis of AA. Prolactin is a polypeptide hormone secreted from the anterior pituitary gland that has a variety of physiological actions including growth promoting activity and exerts a proliferative effect on human keratinocytes. Prolactin may therefore play an important role in the pathogenesis of AA, through its immunomodulatory function. Several studies have shown that prolactin and AA are positively correlated. Patients and methods This case–control study was conducted on 50 patients: 25 AA patients and 25 age-matched and sex-matched healthy controls during the period from November 2017 to March 2018. All patients were subjected to full history taking, clinical examination, and laboratory investigations. Serum prolactin levels were measured by chemiluminescence through an immunoassay-automated access 2 Beckman coulter. Results Serum prolactin levels were significantly elevated in AA patients (mean ± SD, 16.8 ± 2.3) compared with healthy controls (mean ± SD, 9.7 ± 3.00). There was significant positive correlation between serum prolactin level and size of the AA lesion (r = 0.661, P Conclusion Serum prolactin levels were higher in AA patients compared with healthy controls. The levels were correlated with clinical severity in patients with AA. Therefore, serum prolactin level can be used as a diagnostic biomarker for evaluating the clinical status of AA.