Etude des variations du taux de la prolactine et sa régulation hormonale chez des femmes de la région de Mostaganem.

Abstract

Prolactin (PRL) is a peptide hormone synthesized mainly by the lactotropic cells of the anterior pituitary gland. An increase in its concentration beyond normal values is called hyperprolactinemia (HPRL). This HPRL is incriminated in amenorrhea problems, cycle irregularities, hypo-gonadism and can be, by itself, the cause of hypo-fertility in women, and in a parallel way in men; gynecomastia and alterations in sexual functions. The objective of this work is to study variations in prolactin levels in women from the Mostaganem region and to verify whether these variations are influenced by an increase in the levels of FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and LH (luteinizing hormone), two gonadotropic hormones. For this purpose, 15 unselected patients with an average age between 20 and 45 years were tested for lactation hormone plus gonadotropins. The prolactin assay was done by a non-competitive immunometric technique using a sandwich assay while the FSH and LH levels were collected from each patient's individual clinical records. This work, carried out over a period of 1 month, was performed in a medical analysis laboratory (Mostaganem). The values obtained for each hormone are compared with the reference values. Our results showed that :  Five patients had an HPRL out of the 15 cases followed up.  HPRL affects much more the 30-40 age group, followed by the 20-30 age group and finally the over-40 age group.  Of the 15 cases followed, only 1 case over 40 years of age had a high rate of FSH and only 2 women had a high rate of LH. Both of these cases were in the 20-30 and over 40 age groups.  HPRL is independent of changes in FSH and LH concentration. In conclusion, changes in prolactin levels are not affected by increases in FSH and LH levels.