Prolactin in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Abstract

To estimate the prevalence and evaluate the clinical significance of hyperprolactinemia in a cohort of 82 consecutively reviewed patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Basal prolactin levels and clinical data were analyzed in 82 consecutive patients with SLE, and longitudinal studies were carried out in 30/82 patients. Hyperprolactinemia was not associated with active disease in the group as a whole (p = 0.145) or in longitudinal studies in 30 patients (p = 0.294). However, SLE was more often active in patients with hyperprolactinemia without any obvious causes (8/9 samples) compared with patients with known secondary causes for hyperprolactinemia (p = 0.088). Hyperprolactinemia is likely not associated with disease activity in SLE.