Serum Prolactin Levels in Dermatological Diseases: A Case-Control Study

In a case-control study with 100 subjects, researchers found that serum prolactin (PRL) levels were significantly higher in 75 patients with psoriasis, vitiligo, and alopecia areata compared to 25 healthy controls. The mean serum PRL levels were 21.8 ± 11.5 ng/ml in alopecia areata patients, 16.9 ± 6.8 ng/ml in those with psoriasis, and 16.6 ± 8.0 ng/ml in vitiligo patients. There was also a significant correlation between serum PRL levels and disease severity in alopecia areata and psoriasis patients, but not in those with vitiligo. The study suggested that prolactin might contribute to the pathogenesis of these dermatological diseases and could be a marker for disease activity in psoriasis and alopecia areata.