Prolactin concentration in various stages of endometriosis in infertile women

Abstract

Objective: The relation between excessive prolactin and endometriosis-related infertility is debatable. Anovulation or defective luteal phase occurs frequently due to hyperprolactinemia in subfertile women. In this investigation, we evaluated the association between serum prolactin levels and the severity of endometriosis. Methods: This retrospective cohort study carried out at the Babol Infertility Research Center looked into the baseline serum prolactin levels of 114 infertile women with endometriosis and compared them to the levels seen in 101 infertile women without endometriosis (controls). Statistical analysis included independent t-test, chi-square, Welch test and ROC curve analysis. Results: Infertile women with endometriosis had significantly higher serum prolactin levels than infertile women without endometriosis ( p =0.003). A significant difference was detected between controls and individuals with endometriosis stages III/IV ( p -value=0.009). Prolactin was found to have diagnostic value to detect endometriosis stages III/IV vs. stages I/II in AUC=0.65, 95% CI (0.55, 0.76). Prolactin values with a cut off set at 20.08 ng/mL had a sensitivity of 0.74 and specificity of 0.54 in detecting disease stages III/IV vs. I/II. The prognostic capability of prolactin in detecting endometriosis in cases vs. controls by ROC curve analysis had an AUC=+0.67, 95% CI (0.60, 0.74). Prolactin values with a cut off set at 17.5 ng/mL had a sensitivity of 0.64 and specificity of 0.63 in segregating subjects with and without endometriosis. Conclusion: Higher prolactin levels were observed in infertile women with more severe endometriosis when compared to infertile women without endometriosis. Prolactin levels act as a probable prognostic biomarker to detect endometriosis stages III/IV vs. I/II and segregate infertile women with endometriosis from subjects without endometriosis.

BIRC5/Survivin Expression as a Non-Invasive Biomarker of Endometriosis

“…Some studies suggest that prolactin may also act as a probable prognostic biomarker to differentiate patients with endometriosis according to the stage of the disease and also as an indicator of endometriosis related-infertility since higher levels are observed in women with endometriosis when compared with infertile women without endometriosis; however, this relation is debatable [ 58 ]. Prolactin plays an important role in the immune system, participating in the inflammatory process, angiogenesis, and in the formation of thrombi and scarring [ 59 ].…”

The Interplay Between Prolactin and Reproductive System: Focus on Uterine Pathophysiology

“…Such a discrepancy has been reported also in studies evaluating PRL levels in the peritoneal fluid of infertile women with endometriosis, where PRL levels have been found similar ( 49 ) or increased ( 50 ). More recently, serum PRL levels have been reported significantly higher in infertile patients with endometriosis as compared to those without endometriosis, and PRL has been proposed as a biomarker for endometriosis diagnosis and severity ( 52 ). A PRL level of greater than 17.5 ng/ml has been found to significantly discriminate patients with and without endometriosis, whereas a PRL level of greater than 20.08 ng/ml has been reported to significantly discriminate between mild (stage I-II) and severe (III-IV) endometriosis ( 52 ).…”

An Overview on the Role of Prolactin and its Receptors in the Reproductive System of Women with External Genital Endometriosis

“…В литературе представлен ряд научных работ, в которых исследуются уровни ПРЛ у бесплодных пациенток с эндометриозом или при его отсутствии в анамнезе. Несколько групп авторов выявили значительное повышение уровня ПРЛ у описанной когорты пациенток, также в некоторых исследованиях гиперпролактинемия указывалась как возможная причина бесплодия [23,38]. Напротив, по мнению других исследователей статистически значимого повышения концентрации ПРЛ сыворотки крови между различными группами обнаружено не было [55].…”