title: Prolactin in systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the prevalence and evaluate the clinical significance of hyperprolactinemia in a cohort of 82 consecutively reviewed patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
  
  
  METHODS
  Basal prolactin levels and clinical data were analyzed in 82 consecutive patients with SLE, and longitudinal studies were carried out in 30/82 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  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).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hyperprolactinemia is likely not associated with disease activity in SLE.
authors.affiliation: University of Toronto Rheumatic Disease Unit, Wellesley Hospital, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pauzner
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Urowitz
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Gladman
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gough
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006966:Hyperprolactinemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D002738:Chloroquine; D011388:Prolactin