Hyperprolactinaemia in patients with heart failure: clinical and immunogenetic correlations

Eur J Clin Invest. 2002 Feb;32(2):74-8. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2362.2002.00924.x.

Abstract

Background: Prolactin represents a stimulatory link between the neuroendocrine and immune systems, but its involvement in the neurohumoral adaptations to heart failure (HF) has not been explored.

Methods: We prospectively studied 55 patients (45 males, 10 females, age 48 +/- 7 years) with NYHA Class II/III HF due either to dilated cardiomyopathy (CMP) (n = 33) or ischemic heart disease (IHD) (n = 22). Serum prolactin levels were determined by radioimmunoassay, soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) levels by enzyme-linked immunoassay and HLA-DQ genotyping with PCR. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and end-diastolic diameter (LVEDd) were assessed echocardiographically.

Results: Hyperprolactinaemia (17.3 +/- 4 ng mL-1 [Group I] vs. 4.64 +/- 2 ng mL-1 [Group II], P < 0.01) was found in 14 patients (8 with IHD, 6 with CMP). The distribution of HLA-DQB1 alleles was compared in the two groups and showed a significant increase in the frequency of *0301 (86% in Group I vs. 45% in Group II, P < 0.05). Histidine at position 30 of the HLA-DQB1 gene was found in 22% of Group II but in none of Group I patients. Furthermore, there was an inverse correlation between the presence of histidine at position 30 and the levels of serum prolactin. Both sIL-2R levels, a marker of T-cell activation, and concanavalin A-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation were lower in Group I patients (561 +/- 106 vs. 804 +/- 109 pg mL-1 and 20.8 +/- 4 vs. 37.3 +/- 5 cpmX103 [3H] thymidine, respectively). LVEF was significantly higher (32 +/- 5%) and LVEDd smaller (62.0 +/- 6 mm) in Group I compared to Group II (25 +/- 4% and 68.0 +/- 5 mm, respectively, P < 0.01) patients.

Conclusion: Hyperprolactinaemia presents in 25% of patients with HF and may reflect decreased activation of T-lymphocytes associated with relatively preserved LV systolic function which is under immune-genetic control at the HLA-DQ locus.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alleles
  • Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / complications
  • Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / genetics
  • Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / immunology
  • Female
  • HLA-DQ Antigens / genetics
  • HLA-DQ beta-Chains
  • Heart Failure / complications*
  • Heart Failure / genetics
  • Heart Failure / immunology
  • Humans
  • Hyperprolactinemia / complications*
  • Hyperprolactinemia / genetics
  • Hyperprolactinemia / immunology
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myocardial Ischemia / complications
  • Myocardial Ischemia / genetics
  • Myocardial Ischemia / immunology
  • Receptors, Interleukin-2 / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology

Substances

  • HLA-DQ Antigens
  • HLA-DQ beta-Chains
  • HLA-DQB1 antigen
  • Receptors, Interleukin-2