Association between Cretinism and Prolactin Secretion

Abstract

Objective:To compare the serum prolactin level in hyperthyroid and normal control females. Hyperthyroidism is a mutual disease. Even though a direct relation has been demonstrated amid hypothyroidism and increased prolactin levels, this association has not been established for hyperthyroidism. Materials and Methods: Cross sectional study was carried out on cases and control groups. To select the cases, all women referred to the laboratories of Saudi National Hospital with a thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level ≤0.5 mIU/L and met the inclusion criteria were entered in the study. A total of 62 women aged 16 to 49 years were enrolled. The case group included 24 hyperthyroid women, and the control group included 38 women with normal thyroid function matched by age. Results: The mean (SD) serum level of prolactin was 16.4 (0.96) ng/mL (95% confidence interval [CI], 15.39 ng/mL to 15.69 ng/mL) in the controls and 23.02 (1.47) ng/mL (95% CI, 22.7 ng/mL to 23.4 ng/mL) in the case subjects. Hyperprolactinemia was more common in the hyperthyroid group (16.4 [0.96] ng/mL versus 23.02 [1.47] ng/mL; P<.001). The prolactin level decreased with age. Hyperthyroidism and estradiol increased the prolactin level. After adjusting for age and estradiol, hyperthyroidism increased the serum prolactin level (P<.001). Conclusion:The outcomes of the present study showed that hyperprolactinemia is more frequent in hyperthyroid females. Serum prolactin level can be increased in hyperthyroidism.