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Increase in serum prolactin levels as a potential biomarker in Crohn's disease: a prospective cohort study
Mengjie Lu1, Minmin Xu1,2, Xinyi Tang1
1Department of Colorectal Surgery / IBD Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.
Background:
Crohn's disease (CD) management lacks biomarkers that precisely reflect immune activity. Prolactin (PRL) has immunomodulatory functions, but its role in CD is unclear.
Aim:
To investigate serum PRL changes in CD patients and evaluate its potential as a biomarker for disease activity and treatment response.
Methods:
In a prospective cohort study, serum PRL levels were analyzed in 185 CD patients and 58 healthy controls, and correlated with clinical markers (CRP, FC).
Results:
Serum PRL levels were significantly higher in CD patients versus controls (p<0.001). Higher baseline PRL levels correlated with a greater reduction in CRP after treatment. The study population had no previous reproductive history.
Conclusion:
Elevated serum PRL may serve as a supplementary biomarker reflecting immune dysregulation and disease activity in CD, particularly in this cohort enriched with severe, perianal-dominant disease. Its role in evaluating therapeutic effectiveness warrants further investigation.
