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Prolactin as a predictor of endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness progression in menopause

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 31, pages 520–524 (2017)Cite this article

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Abstract

Postmenopausal women are at increased risk for progression of arteriosclerosis and hypertension. Recent cross-sectional evidence suggests that high normal circulating prolactin levels may accelerate vascular ageing in menopause. Postmenopausal women (n=201) were consecutively recruited from a Menopause Clinic and re-evaluated in at least one follow-up visit within the next 3 years. Baseline circulating prolactin levels were measured while both baseline and follow-up vascular and biochemical measurements were performed. Endothelial function was assessed by flow-mediated dilation (FMD), aortic stiffness by pulse-wave velocity (PWV) and arterial wave reflections by applanation tonometry. Baseline prolactin significantly correlated with lower FMD at follow-up (P=0.005). After multivariable adjustment for age, follow-up time, blood pressure (BP), body mass index, smoking and medication, this correlation remained significant (P=0.003). In addition, baseline circulating prolactin levels were independently associated with changes in mean BP (β=0.131, P=0.021), peripheral diastolic BP (β=0.169, P=0.004) and new-onset hypertension (OR=1.235, P=0.001). Owing to significant interaction between baseline prolactin and age for changes in PWV over time (P=0.036), a subgroup analysis based on median age was performed. This analysis revealed that in women younger than 55 years, prolactin was an independent predictor of changes in PWV over time (P=0.008). In conclusion, high normal circulating prolactin levels predict changes in haemodynamic indices and worsening endothelial function in healthy postmenopausal women. Particularly in young postmenopausal women, prolactin predicts accelerated arterial stiffening.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Mrs Marina Karakitsou for performing all vascular studies.

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Author notes

  1. G Georgiopoulos and I Lambrinoudaki: These authors contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Vascular Laboratory, Alexandra Hospital Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    G Georgiopoulos, F Athanasouli, A Koliviras, C Papamichael & K Stamatelopoulos

  2. Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Aretaieio Hospital, Athens, Greece

    I Lambrinoudaki, E Armeni, A Augoulea & D Rizos

  3. Department of Pathophysiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    A Protogerou

  4. Department of Cardiology, Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

    K Stellos

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  1. G Georgiopoulos
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Correspondence to K Stamatelopoulos.

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Georgiopoulos, G., Lambrinoudaki, I., Athanasouli, F. et al. Prolactin as a predictor of endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness progression in menopause. J Hum Hypertens 31, 520–524 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/jhh.2017.15

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