title: Serum Prolactin Levels in Multiple Sclerosis, Neuromyelitis Optica, and Clinically Isolated Syndrome Patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prolactin has been discussed as a factor likely to play a mediating role in multiple sclerosis (MS). Our aim was to investigate the possible association between prolactin production and clinical features of autoimmune demyelinating central nervous system disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum prolactin levels of 255 MS patients, 19 neuromyelitis optica (NMO) patients, 15 clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) patients, and 240 healthy controls were measured by a heterogeneous sandwich magnetic separation assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MS and NMO cohorts had a significantly higher number of patients with hyperprolactinemia than healthy controls. Sera obtained during attacks of both MS and NMO patients displayed higher prolactin levels than those collected during remission. Prolactin level elevations were found to be more prominent in myelitis attacks in MS. No significant correlation was found between prolactin levels and age, disease duration, disability status, number of attacks, and oligoclonal band positivity. CIS patients who converted to MS had higher prolactin levels than those who did not.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings support the possible mediating role of prolactin in the immunopathogenesis of MS, NMO, and conversion from CIS to MS.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Neurology, Haydarpaşa Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Recai
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Türkoğlu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, İstanbul University İstanbul School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giriş
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Neurology, Haydarpaşa Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gencer
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, İstanbul University İstanbul School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Uğur
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Akcan
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, İstanbul University İstanbul School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Arda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Örçen
keywords: Prolactin; clinically isolated syndrome; multiple sclerosis; neuromyelitis optica