Serum prolactin in patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disorder that affects the central nervous system (CNS) of females more than males. The objective of the current study was to assess serum level of prolactin (PRL) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) in patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and to explore their role in disease activity. Subjects and methods: Fifty females were included in this study, 40 patients with RRMS were evaluated during relapse and remission and 10 age-matched healthy subjects who served as controls. All patients were subjected to neurological evaluation including Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), brain, and spine magnetic resonance image (MRI); serum PRL and TNFα levels were measured for all patients (during relapse and remission) and controls. Results: Median serum PRL level was significantly higher in MS patients during relapse than remission and control subjects (P = 0.041). TNFα level was significantly higher in MS patients in relapse than remission (P = 0.026) as well as the healthy controls (P = 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was analyzed for prediction of MS relapse, AUROC of serum TNFα was 0.811 and that of serum PRL was 0.678. Both serum PRL and TNFα were positively correlated in MS patients in relapse with each other (r = 0.672, P < 0.001) and also with age, EDSS, number of relapses, and MRI lesion number (P value = 0.001). Conclusion: Elevated serum PRL and TNFα levels are associated with relapse in MS patients. Moreover, they are positively correlated with EDSS, disease duration, and MRI lesion number.

Effects of Tele-Pilates and Tele-Yoga on Biochemicals, Physical, and Psychological Parameters of Females with Multiple Sclerosis

“…As prolactin plays a dual role in MS immune pathogenesis, it influences CD40 expression in B cells and increases B cell autoreactivity in MS, which may demonstrate a link between brain injury and prolactin levels by enhancing myelin regeneration and neuronal survival in MS animal models. [ 43 ]. As such, a possible explanation for our results might be that tele-Pilates and tele-yoga may help female patients with MS to repair their myelin by increasing prolactin serum levels [ 43 , 63 ].…”

“…As such, a possible explanation for our results might be that tele-Pilates and tele-yoga may help female patients with MS to repair their myelin by increasing prolactin serum levels [ 43 , 63 ]. In contrast, it has been indicated that an increase in prolactin levels may also raise inflammatory reactions and injure MS patients [ 43 , 64 ]. Eventually, to develop a full picture of prolactin’s role in MS patients after exercise, additional studies will be needed.…”

“…Of note, the clinical evaluations of serum blood tests were performed when most of the female MS participants were in the follicular phase to avoid the error variation of prolactin that may occur in the menstrual cycle [ 42 ]. Prolactin blood was collected three to four hours after awakening [ 43 , 44 , 45 ], and the cortisol serum level was not exceeded by 8:30 a.m. [ 36 , 46 , 47 ]. Furthermore, the participants were informed that they should not drink caffeine or perform heavy physical activity on the day of and the day before blood testing [ 47 ].…”

Relation between microRNA‐155 and inflammatory mediators in multiple sclerosis

“…A recent study showed a significant increase in TNF‐α levels in MS patients in relapse compared to control but no difference in its level between patients in remission and control subjects. [ 27 ]…”