A Study of Prolactin Hormone and other Factors in Relation to Uterine Leiomyomas among a Group of Iraqi Women

Abstract

Background: Uterine leiomyomas, commonly referred to, as "fibroids" are benign tumors arising from the myometrial compartment of the uterus. They are typically well differentiated, have a relatively low mitotic index, and retain their smooth muscle phenotype. Uterine leiomyomas are the most common gynecologic neoplasm, occurring with a remarkable frequency in more than 70% of women at their reproductive age. The female reproductive tract is known to be an extrapituitary source of the hormone prolactin. The endometrium, myometrium, and uterine leiomyomas (fibroids) all have been shown to secrete prolactin when cultured in vitro.Objectives: To study the characteristics of patients with uterine leiomyomas (fibroid) in relation to some factors, and to estimate prolactin hormone level at different sites of leiomyomas patients Subjects and methods: The study was conducted during the period from March 2004 to March 2006 at Obstetrics and Gynaecology departments of four hospitals in Baghdad city. It included a convenient sample of patients with leiomyomas. The circulating prolactin of those patients (n=53) as well as their tissues prolactin [(leiomyomas and myometrium)] was assayed using the Prolactin Kit (Biomérieux). Results: Mean age of the patients was 39.9±5.5 years. Mean body mass index (BMI) was 28.4±4.7 kg/m2. Their mean age at menarche was 13.1±0.6 years. They weren't smokers neither hormonal contraceptive users. Eighty-three percent of patients were married and the rest (16.98%) were single. Parity for the married patients was ranging from nulliparous to 5 and the highest percentage was among those with 1-4 parity (70.5%).The prolactins mean for patient’s serum was 143.1±106.9 ng/ml, leiomyomas was 18.2±14.0 ng/ml and for patients myometrium was 8.0±3.3 ng/ml respectively. A highly significant difference was found between the leiomyomas prolactin and patient's myometrium prolactin. Conclusion: This study concluded that patients with leiomyomas are at late reproductive or premenopausal age and overweight with mean BMI 28.4±4.7 kg/m2. It was found that leiomyomas PRL is significantly higher than myometrial PRL of the same patient. Keywords: leiomyomas, prolactin hormone