Elevated prolactin levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: association with disease activity and structural damage
Abstract
The focus of this study was to evaluate the role of prolactin (PRL) serum and synovial fluid levels in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis in the disease activity - clinical, laboratory and X-ray changes. A total of 29 patients with RA and 26 patients with OA were included in the study.
The concentration of PRL in the serum and synovial fluid was measured by immunoradiometric assays, and the levels of serum anti-citrullinated protein/peptide autoantibodies (ACPA) and IgM rheumatoid factor (IgM-RF) were analysed by ELISA. Disease activity score (DAS 28) and radiological (Larsen) score were assessed.
The levels of PRL in serum (299.55 ±27.28 vs. 230.59±16.61mIU/l, p=0.041) as well as in synovial fluid (338.85± 33.49 vs. 245.97±21.88mIU/l, p=0.024) were significantly higher in patients with RA than in patients with OA. The findings of increased prolactin levels in patients with RA lead to the assumption that prolactin may play a role in disease severity and the process of joint damage in RA.