Effects of anti-prolactin autoantibodies on serum prolactin measurements

Department of Endocrinology, Kobe City General Hospital, Japan.

The influence of anti-PRL autoantibodies on PRL measurements determined by immunoassays was investigated in 10 patients with anti-PRL autoantibodies. Four different immunoassay systems (two double-antibody radioimmunoassays (RIAs), a single-antibody RIA and an immunoradiometric assay (IRMA)) were examined. Total and free PRL were extracted from sera by precipitating gamma-globulin with polyethylene glycol with and without acidification, respectively. PRL values determined by direct measurement were compared with total PRL values. The proportion of free to total PRL levels determined by each immunoassay in sera with anti-PRL autoantibodies was significantly lower than in control sera. Values obtained by direct measurement of PRL (a routine assay procedure) in control sera were similar to total PRL values, whereas in sera with anti-PRL (a routine assay procedure) in control sera were similar to total PRL values, whereas in sera with anti-PRL autoantibodies the values varied from one immunoassay to the other. In sera with anti-PRL autoantibodies, double-antibody RIA 1, RIA 2 and single-antibody RIA 3 yielded values lower for PRL than for total PRL (52 +/- 15% in RIA 1, 40 +/- 8.8% in RIA 2, 40 +/- 14% in RIA 3), while PRL levels determined by IRMA were not significantly different (112 +/- 14%). Immunoglobulin G purified from serum with anti-PRL autoantibodies dose-dependently decreased the recovery of PRL assayed by the double-antibody technique, while it did not affect that by IRMA. These data suggest that the presence of anti-PRL autoantibodies gives variable results depending on the immunoassays used.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

This article has been cited by other articles:

				N Hattori, Y Nakayama, K Kitagawa, T Ishihara, Y Saiki, and C Inagaki Anti-prolactin (PRL) autoantibody-binding sites (epitopes) on PRL molecule in macroprolactinemia. J. Endocrinol., August 1, 2006; 190(2): 287 - 293. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Leanos-Miranda and G. Cardenas-Mondragon Serum free prolactin concentrations in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus are associated with lupus activity Rheumatology, January 1, 2006; 45(1): 97 - 101. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. M. Suliman, T. P. Smith, J. Gibney, and T. J. McKenna Frequent Misdiagnosis and Mismanagement of Hyperprolactinemic Patients before the Introduction of Macroprolactin Screening: Application of a New Strict Laboratory Definition of Macroprolactinemia Clin. Chem., September 1, 2003; 49(9): 1504 - 1509. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. P. Smith, A. M. Suliman, M. N. Fahie-Wilson, and T. J. McKenna Gross Variability in the Detection of Prolactin in Sera Containing Big Big Prolactin (Macroprolactin) by Commercial Immunoassays J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., December 1, 2002; 87(12): 5410 - 5415. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Vallette-Kasic, I. Morange-Ramos, A. Selim, G. Gunz, S. Morange, A. Enjalbert, P.-M. Martin, P. Jaquet, and T. Brue Macroprolactinemia Revisited: A Study on 106 Patients J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., February 1, 2002; 87(2): 581 - 588. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F Blanco-Favela, M. G Quintal, A K Chavez-Rueda, A Leanos-Miranda, R Berron-Peres, V Baca-Ruiz, and C Lavalle-Montalvo Anti-prolactin autoantibodies in paediatric systemic lupus erythematosus patients Lupus, November 1, 2001; 10(11): 803 - 808. [Abstract] [PDF]

				A. Leanos-Miranda, D. Pascoe-Lira, K. A. Chavez-Rueda, and F. Blanco-Favela Persistence of Macroprolactinemia Due to Antiprolactin Autoantibody before, during, and after Pregnancy in a Woman with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., June 1, 2001; 86(6): 2619 - 2624. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A Leanos-Miranda, D Pascoe-Lira, K A Chavez-Rueda, and F Blanco-Favela Detection of macroprolactinemia with the polyethylene glycol precipitation test in systemic lupus erythematosus patients with hyperprolactinemia Lupus, May 1, 2001; 10(5): 340 - 345. [Abstract] [PDF]

				D. Pascoe-Lira, G. Duran-Reyes, I. Contreras-Hernández, L. Manuel-Apolinar, F. Blanco-Favela, and A. Leaños-Miranda Frequency of Macroprolactinemia Due to Autoantibodies against Prolactin in Pregnant Women J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., February 1, 2001; 86(2): 924 - 929. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				P Jimena, M A Aguirre, A Lopez-Curbelo, M de Andres, C Garcia-Courtay, and M J Cuadrado Prolactin levels in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a case controlled study Lupus, July 1, 1998; 7(6): 383 - 386. [Abstract] [PDF]

				N. Hattori and C. Inagaki Anti-Prolactin (PRL) Autoantibodies Cause Asymptomatic Hyperprolactinemia: Bioassay and Clearance Studies of PRL-Immunoglobulin G Complex J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., September 1, 1997; 82(9): 3107 - 3110. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]