Assessment of Serum Prolactin Levels in Patients with Liver Disease: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Prolactin is a hormone released from the anterior pituitary gland under tonic inhibitory control by dopamine. A decrease in dopamine levels is usually observed in decompensated liver disease, which could be due to its inhibition by the increased synthesis of false neurotransmitters. However, the level of serum prolactin in liver disease patients still remains disputed. Aim: To evaluate the serum prolactin levels in patients with liver disease of different aetiologies and compare them with healthy controls. Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Biochemistry from August 2021 to August 2022 at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS), Kochi, Kerala, India. A total of 100 patients with liver disease and 100 age- and gender-matched healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Serum prolactin was estimated using the Electro-Chemiluminescence Immuno Assay (ECLIA) technique. The serum prolactin levels were compared among patients with liver disease of different aetiologies and with healthy controls. Statistical analysis was carried out using the Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Dun Bonferroni test. Results: The median serum prolactin levels were significantly elevated in the cases {40.61 (29.13-70.24 ng/mL)} compared to the controls {17 (10.95-20.70 ng/mL)}, This p-value is correct as the median levels for cases is {40.61 (29.13-70.24 ng/mL)}. Comparison of prolactin levels showed no statistically significant difference based on the distribution of age and gender. In the present study, prolactin levels were found to be most prominent in patients with fatty liver disease. Conclusion: The serum prolactin level increased significantly in liver disease patients, particularly in patients with fatty liver. Hence, prolactin levels can be used as a useful predictive biomarker for fatty liver.