Prolactin level is significantly elevated in lesional skin of patients with psoriasis.

BACKGROUND

Accumulating data point to a potential role of prolactin in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.

METHODS

We initiated a study including psoriasis patients (n = 15) and healthy volunteers (n = 15) as controls. Psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) score was evaluated, and prolactin levels in serum and blister fluid were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTS

Prolactin levels were significantly (P < 0.01) elevated in blister fluid of psoriatic lesional skin. Correlations between PASI score and different serum prolactin levels in lesional and non-lesional skin were insignificant. Significant positive correlations of prolactin level were observed between lesional and non-lesional skin in psoriasis (P < 0.05) and between serum and clinically normal skin in both psoriasis and control subjects (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Locally produced prolactin may be involved in the pathogenesis of psoriatic lesions.