[Blood prolactin under the effect of protirelin in spondylarthropathies. Treatment trial of 4 cases of reactive arthritis and 2 cases of psoriatic arthritis with bromocriptine].

Prolactin radioimmunoassay was carried out before and 15, then 30 min after intravenous infusion of protireline (0.2 mg) in 3 groups of male patients: 7 with reactive arthritis (HLA B27: 6; age: 25 +/- 6.3 yr), 13 with ankylosing spondylitis (HLA B27: 11; age: 33.2 +/- 14.7 yr), 5 with psoriatic arthritis (HLA B27: 1; age: 28.8 +/- 6.3 yr). The same test was carried out in sex-age-body mass index matched controls. Only the patients with reactive arthritis presented dynamic hyperprolactinaemia 15 and 30 min after protireline infusion and none of ankylosing or psoriatic arthritis groups. A complete failure of bromocriptine was observed in reactive arthritis. In 2 cases of psoriatic arthritis, adding bromocriptine to gold salts and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug was followed by a drastic efficacy with spectacular improvement in clinical, biological and occupational status. Because none of the cases had hyperprolactinaemia, bromocriptine acted probably had an intrinic anti-inflammatory effect independent of its antiprolactinic effect.