title: Relationship between Prolactin Plasma Levels and White Matter Volume in Women with Multiple Sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The role of prolactin (PRL) on tissue injury and repair mechanisms in multiple sclerosis (MS) remains unclear. The aim of this work was to investigate the relationship between PRL plasma levels and brain damage as measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
  
  
  METHODS
  We employed a chemiluminescence immunoassay for measuring plasma levels of PRL. We used a 1.5 T scanner to acquire images and Jim 4.0 and SIENAX software to analyse them.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We included 106 women with relapsing remitting (RR) MS and stable disease in the last two months. There was no difference in PRL plasma levels between patients with and without gadolinium enhancement on MRI. PRL plasma levels correlated with white matter volume (WMV) (rho = 0.284, p = 0.014) but not with grey matter volume (GMV). Moreover, PRL levels predicted changes in WMV (Beta: 984, p = 0.034).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data of a positive association between PRL serum levels and WMV support the role of PRL in promoting myelin repair as documented in animal models of demyelination. The lack of an increase of PRL in the presence of gadolinium enhancement, contrasts with the view considering this hormone as an immune-stimulating and detrimental factor in the inflammatory process associated with MS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy ; Sant'Andrea Hospital, 00189 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Giglio
authors.affiliation: Sant'Andrea Hospital, 00189 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marinelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Prosperini
authors.affiliation: Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), 00196 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Contessa
authors.affiliation: Sant'Andrea Hospital, 00189 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gurreri
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Piattella
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Angelis
authors.affiliation: Sant'Andrea Hospital, 00189 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: V T
authors.initials: VT
authors.lastname: Barletta
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK ; IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00142 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tomassini
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy ; IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, 86077 Isernia, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pantano
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy ; Sant'Andrea Hospital, 00189 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pozzilli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D066127:White Matter / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011388:Prolactin; D005682:Gadolinium