Objective: Hyperprolactinemia has been associated with endothelial dysfunction and a wide range of cardiovascular risk factors, thus it can potentially lead to cardiac dysfunction. The present study was designed to interrogate our hypothesis that hyperprolactinemia can contribute to preclinical impaired left ventricular function.
Methods: Thirty-one prolactinoma patients and 60 healthy volunteers were prospectively recruited. Left ventricular function was evaluated using conventional two dimensions and M-mode echocardiography, as well as Doppler tissue imaging (DTI).
Results: The Tei index (0.45 ± 0.06 vs. 0.41 ± 0.03, P = .005) and ratio of transmitral and myocardial early diastolic velocities (E/Em; 6.30 ± 1.45 vs. 5.64 ± 0.69, P = .045) were significantly higher, and septal systolic velocity (Sm; 9.88 ± 1.45 vs. 11.58 ± 1.28 cm/s, P<.001) was significantly lower in prolactinoma patients. Furthermore, significant motional abnormalities were detected in regional segments of prolactinoma patients. Pearson's correlation analysis revealed that prolactin level was inversely associated with Sm (r = -0.373, P = .009) and late diastolic phase (Am; r = -0.293, P = .043). Moreover, inverse correlations between prolactin and partial left ventricular segment wall motion were found, including the basal (r = -0.363, P = .014), middle (r = -0.418, P = .004), and apical segment (r = -0.574, P<.001) of the posterior ventricular septum. Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that prolactin (β = -0.28, 95% confidence interval -0.011 to 0, P = .035), as a single factor, can significantly predict decreased Sm, independent of traditional vascular risk factors.
Conclusion: Our results suggest that subclinical cardiac dysfunction occurs in untreated prolactinoma patients and is characterized by impaired systolic and diastolic function of the left ventricle, as well as regional segment motional abnormality.
Abbreviations: A = transmitral late diastolic velocity Am = late diastolic phase Apo = apolipoprotein DTI = Doppler tissue imaging E = transmitral early diastolic velocity Em = myocardial early diastolic velocity FMD = flow-mediated dilation HOMA-IR = homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance hsCRP = high-sensitivity C-reactive protein IMT = intima media thickness LDL-C = low-density lipoprotein cholesterol LV = left ventricular PPCM = postpartum cardiomyopathy Sm = septal systolic velocity.