title: Hyper-Prolactinemia in Men With Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy: Does It Have any Prognostic Implications?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prolactin (PRL) has increasingly been recognized to play a stimulatory role in inflammatory response. Recently, studies have reported an increase in prolactin level among patients with chronic heart failure, however, there is conflicting data about its role as a prognostic factor in these patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to measure PRL level in male patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC) and its relationship with some prognostic factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum prolactin level was assessed in 33 men with a diagnosis of IDC, left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) less than 35% on standard medical therapy for heart failure and New York Heart Association class II-III. Serum NT-Pro BNP (N terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide), hs-CRP (High sensitive C reactive protein) and six-minute walk test (6MWT) were also measured. Our secondary endpoints were mortality, transplantation and hospitalization due to acute heart failure and all patients were followed for one year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age was 33 ± 7 years (24-45 years) and the mean LVEF was 23% ± 6.5. The mean PRL level was 16 ± 7.7 ng/mL (95% confidence interval: 13.3-18.7 ng/mL), which was significantly higher than normal reference values (4.04-15 ng/mL) (P < 0.0001). There was no correlation between PRL levels and pro BNP, hs-CRP or 6MWT test, however, the serum PRL level was slightly higher among patients who died or were hospitalized or transplanted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Considering our study results, prognostic implication of PRL should be questioned. However, it seems that the significant increase in serum PRL in the study population needs more consideration and may have its own pathophysiologic importance. Further studies are recommended for better addressing the role of PRL in chronic heart failure patients.
authors.affiliation: Rajaie Cardiovascular Medical and Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Nasim
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Naderi
authors.affiliation: Rajaie Cardiovascular Medical and Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Hooman
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bakhshandeh
authors.affiliation: Rajaie Cardiovascular Medical and Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ardeshiri
authors.affiliation: Rajaie Cardiovascular Medical and Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barzegari
authors.affiliation: Rajaie Cardiovascular Medical and Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amin
authors.affiliation: Rajaie Cardiovascular Medical and Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Sepideh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taghavi
authors.affiliation: Rajaie Cardiovascular Medical and Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maleki
keywords: Cardiomyopathy, Dilated; Hyperprolactinemia; Male; Prognosis