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Hyperprolactinemia more common in hyperthyroidism than euthyroidism
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Serum prolactin levels may be increased in women with hyperthyroidism, which may cause more frequent hyperprolactinemia, compared with women with normal thyroid function, study data show.
Khatereh Mohammadi Tahroodi , MD, of the physiology research center, Institute of Neuropharmacology at Kerman University of Medical Sciences in Iran, and colleagues evaluated 70 women with hyperthyroidism referred to the laboratories of Kerman with thyroid-stimulating hormone levels of 0.5 mIU/L or less (cases) and 160 age-matched women with normal thyroid function (controls) from the Kerman Coronary Artery Disease Risk Factors study. Researchers sought to compare the serum prolactin levels between the two groups.
The two groups had significantly different prolactin levels (P < .001). Normal prolactin levels were found in 70.4% of cases and 85.5% of controls whereas hyperprolactinemia was found in 21.6% of cases and 14.2% of controls.
The risk for hyperprolactinemia was 2.54 times higher in cases compared with controls (P = .013).
“The results of this study showed that the serum prolactin level in patients with hyperthyroidism is higher than normal individuals, and also greater percentage of patients with hyperthyroidism suffer from hyperprolactinemia,” the researchers wrote. “Also, the concentration of serum prolactin is declined with age and increased with hyperthyroidism and elevated estradiol level. The effect of hyperthyroidism on the increase of prolactin is independent of the effect of age and estradiol. However, these changes are minor and do not extend the prolactin level to the extent in patients with prolactinoma.” – by Amber Cox
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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