The objective of this article is to analyze the serum level of Prolactin (s-PRL) in 307 treated patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), and its association to disease activity, demographics, serological and clinical variables. The hypothesis to be tested: s-PRL correlates to disease activity in RA. Serum concentration of the hormone Prolactin (s-PRL) was determined in 307 treated patients with (RA) in a cross-sectional study design. The patients were characterized by demographic, serological and clinical variables, in addition to assessment of disease activity by DAS28 (3w-CRP) score. Prolactin was analyzed by a double sandwich immune analysis. Among the 307 RA-patients examined, only 4 patients had high s- PRL defined as females > 637 mIU/L, and males > 456 mIU/L. These 4 patients all had low disease activity score (DAS 28 score < 2, 0). There was no correlation of s-PRL to DAS28 score (r= -0, 08, p=0.21), and no correlation of s-PRL to the number of swollen or tender joints, pain, CRP, Rheumatoid factor or anti-CCP. We demonstrated that 4 out of 307 RA patients had high level of s-PRL, all of them with low disease activity score. No correlation of s-PRL to disease activity DAS 28 score was demonstrated. We therefore question the hypothesis that PRL may play a role in disease severity and the development of rheumatoid arthritis.
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