Original Articles SERUM PROLACTIN LEVELS IN WOMEN HAVING HIRSUTISM

Abstract

Objective:

To determine the relationship between serum prolactin levels and the severity of hirsutism.

Methods:

A sample of sixty female subjects, aged 18-35 years, having hirsutism was selected, while ten normal healthy females were randomly included as controls at IMBB, the University of Lahore in 2014. All subjects underwent an assessment of excess terminal hair growth using the modification of the method originally described by Ferriman and Gallwey (FG). Hirsutism was classified as mild (score 8-15), moderate (score16-25), and severe (score >25). Serum prolactin levels were assayed by LISA technique. The significance of the difference between the groups was analyzed by independent samples Student’s t-test and Pearson’s correlation coefficient.

Results:

Serum prolactin was significantly (p=0.000) higher in mild hirsute and non significantly(p=0.062) higher in moderate hirsute subjects as compared to the control subjects. The prolactin levels were non significantly correlated to mild hirsutism (r=0.072, p=0.615) and to moderate hirsutism (r=0.076, p=0.846).

Conclusion:

Serum prolactin is raised in hirsute women, however, the relationship between serum prolactin and severity of hirsutism is not statistically significant.