Hyperprolactinemia in systemic lupus erythematosus?

The objective of this project was to determine the prevalence of hyperprolactinemia (HPRL) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to evaluate the role of prolactin (PRL) as a disease-activity marker. We determined PRL in a cohort of 182 patients with SLE. Basal prolactin levels and clinical data (disease-activity index, sero-activity, medications) were analyzed in all patients. The findings show only mildly elevated PRL levels in four SLE-patients and normaprolactinemia in 98% (n = 178), without any association with disease activity. Our results differ from previous studies. HPRL appears not to be prevalent in SLE, nor to be associated with disease activity.