Thrombocytopenia and leukocytosis are independent predictors of hyperprolactinemia in systemic lupus erythematosus patients

Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) flares have been linked to reproductive hormones. Prolactin hormone is involved in a number of rheumatic and autoimmune disease. It was implicated in the pathogenesis of SLE. Aim of the work: This study was conducted to evaluate serum prolactin level in a group of Saudi SLE patients and to explore its correlation to clinical and laboratorial markers of disease activity. Patients and methods: Thirty-three Saudi female patients who fulfilled the American College of Rheumatology criteria for SLE were investigated. Disease activity was assessed using the published SLEDAI. Fasting and resting basal serum prolactin and the serological and laboratory profiles of the studied patients were assessed. Results: Hyperprolactinemia was detected in 10 (30.3%) patients with a mean serum prolactin of 680.7 +/- 1021 mIU/L. There were no significant correlation between SLEDAI score and serum prolactin levels. Linear regression analysis selected low platelet count and raised total leukocytic count as the best predictors of serum prolactin level in the investigated Saudi SLE patients (R-2 = 0.4, P = 0.002). Conclusion: Hyperprolactinemia detected in a subset of Saudi SLE patients can be predicted by thrombocytopenia and leukocytosis. However, it did not correlate with SLEDAI score of disease activity. (C) 2011 Egyptian Society for Joint Diseases and Arthritis. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V.