PROLACTIN MODULATES THE DISEASE-ACTIVITY OF SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS ACCOMPANIED BY PROLACTINOMA

We present a 31-year-old female patient with systemic lupus erythemato sus (SLE) which was accompanied by prolactinoma. Her SLE flared when t he plasma levels of prolactin (PRL) increased, and subsided when these levels decreased following the administration of bromocriptine, irres pective of the glucocorticoid dosage. For the 29 plasma samples obtain ed during the clinical course, PRL levels were significantly correlate d to the serum anti-DNA antibody titers (r = 0.55, p < 0.05) and inver sely to the serum complement activity (r = -0.33, p < 0.05). This resu lt suggests that PRL may play a role in the pathogenesis of SLE in som e patients.