الفهرس 
IntroductionOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
This study was performed on patients were collected from rheumatology out patients clinics at Sohag University Hospital. A total of ninety females , were enrolled in this study. 30 females are completely healthy and 60 non lactating females with rheumatoid arthritis, divided into two groups; 30 patients in activity and 30 patient in remission. Written informed consent was obtaiend from patients.
The aim of our work was to detect serum level of prolactin in RA patients and its association with laboratory and clinical disease activity of RA.
The results of our study revealed that rheumatoid factor, anti-ccp, CRP and ESR show significant increase in patients with active disease when compared to patients in remission and when compared to controls.
Our study revealed that ASOT, ANA , uric acid, blood glucose level, ALT, AST and kidney function tests show non significant difference in patients with active disease when compared to patients in remission or when compared to controls.
Our study revealed that serum prolactin show significant increase in patients with active disease when compared to patients in remission and when compared to controls and significant increase in patients in remission when compared to controls.
from our study we can show that there is a relationship between PRL levels and disease activity in patients with RA.
Conclusion
Despite being known primarily as a lactogenic hormone, PRL is in fact also an immunomodulatory hormone. There is a growing body of evidence demonstrating a link between PRL and autoimmune diseases in humans. At present there is a relationship between PRL levels and disease activity exists for RA, but it may also exist in SLE, Reiter’s syndrome, psoriasis, and other yet unstudied conditions.
Prolactin-lowering drugs, bromocriptine at least has been shown to decrease both peripheral and pituitary PRL production and may represent a useful adjunctive therapy in certain patients, particularly those with refractory disease.
Recommendation
More studies are wanted in order to examine the potential causal relationship between PRL and human autoimmune disease and to determine the usefulness of dopamine agonists as adjunctive therapy in the management.