title: Prolactin and preclinical atherosclerosis in menopausal women with cardiovascular risk factors.
abstract: Hyperprolactinemia has been associated with endothelial dysfunction and an adverse cardiovascular risk profile, possibly as a result of the vasoconstrictive properties of prolactin. In this cross-sectional study, we examined the hypothesis that prolactin contributes to the increased cardiovascular risk occurring in early menopause by studying apparently healthy women without hyperprolactinemia. Prolactin serum levels were measured by immunoassay in 76 women aged 54.4+/-4.9 years in menopause for 4.9+/-2.8 years, and possible correlations with traditional cardiovascular risk factors and surrogate markers of preclinical atherosclerosis, arterial stiffening, and endothelial and microcirculatory function were examined. Positive correlations between prolactin serum levels and arterial blood pressure, but no other traditional risk factors, were found. Prolactin also correlated with central aortic systolic (r=0.337; P=0.002) and diastolic (r=0.272; P=0.012) blood pressures and pulse wave velocity (r=0.264; P=0.02), a marker of aortic stiffness, but not with endothelial or microcirculatory function or carotid intima-media thickness. By multivariate regression analysis, prolactin levels determined, independent of traditional risk factors, both blood pressures and aortic stiffness. Notably, prolactin correlated with European Society of Cardiology HeartScore (r=0.364; P=0.002), a composite index that predicts 10-year cardiovascular mortality. Prolactin levels >8.0 ng/mL had 100% sensitivity to predict a high peripheral blood pressure. Prolactin may play a role in accelerated arteriosclerosis in early menopause by affecting central/peripheral blood pressure and arterial stiffness. In contrast, no correlation was observed with other risk factors or surrogate markers of atherosclerosis. Prospective studies to assess whether prolactin is an additional hormone increasing cardiovascular risk are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Therapeutics, Alexandra Hospital, Athens University Medical School, Greece.
authors.forename: George A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Georgiopoulos
authors.forename: Kimon S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Stamatelopoulos
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lambrinoudaki
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lykka
authors.forename: Katerina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kyrkou
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rizos
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Creatsa
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Christodoulakos
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alevizaki
authors.forename: Petros P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Sfikakis
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Papamichael
mesh_terms: D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004727:Endothelium / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D016014:Linear Models; D008593:Menopause / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D011388:Prolactin