Immunomodulating Effects Depend on Prolactin Levels in Patients with Hyperprolactinemia.

Prolactin is known to have immune modulatory effects acting through the prolactin receptor, which is present on a variety of immune cells. Certain chemokines contribute to form the type of T helper (Th) preponderance in the immune response. The objective of this work was to assess if hyperprolactinemia not related to pregnancy is associated with changes in circulating levels of chemokines and other immunological markers. In this cross sectional study, 35 patients with hyperprolactinemia (5 men), and 102 healthy blood donors (19 men) were included. Serum levels of Th1- Th2- and Th17-associated chemokines, C-reactive protein, immunoglobulins, and the B cell attracting chemokine CXCL13 were assessed. The hyperprolactinemic group had significantly higher levels of Th2 associated CCL22 (p=0.022), Th17 associated CXCL1 (p=0.001), B cell attracting CXCL13 (p=0.003), and C-reactive protein (p<0.001) compared to controls, and these proteins were also positively correlated with prolactin levels. While differences in CCL22, CXCL1, CXCL13, and C-reactive protein were present in patients with low or moderate hyperprolactinemia, no differences were observed at high (>3600 mU/l) prolactin levels. To evaluate a possible dose-associated response to prolactin, an in vitro model was used, showing prolactin-induced increase in T-helper cell activation at moderate levels, while activation decreased at higher levels. Hyperprolactinemia seems to have several immunomodulatory effects and was associated with increased levels of chemokines associated with Th2 and Th17 responses and B cell attraction. However, patients with greatly increased prolactin had normal levels of chemokines, and in vitro, high levels of prolactin decreased T-helper cell activation.

Calf venous compliance measured by venous occlusion plethysmography: methodological aspects.

PURPOSE: Calf venous compliance (C calf) is commonly evaluated with venous occlusion plethysmography (VOP) during a standard cuff deflation protocol. However, the technique relies on two not previously validated assumptions concerning thigh cuff pressure (P cuff) transmission and the impact of net fluid filtration (F filt) on C calf. The aim was to validate VOP in the lower limb and to develop a model to correct for F filt during VOP. METHODS: Strain-gauge technique was used to study calf volume changes in 15 women and 10 age-matched men. A thigh cuff was inflated to 60 mmHg for 4 and 8 min with a subsequent decrease of 1 mmHg s(-1). Intravenous pressure (P iv) was measured simultaneously. C calf was determined with the commonly used equation [Compliance = ß 1 + 2ß 2 × P cuff] describing the pressure-compliance relationship. A model was developed to identify and correct for F filt. RESULTS: Transmission of P cuff to P iv was 100 %. The decrease in P cuff correlated well with P iv reduction (r = 0.99, P < 0.001). Overall, our model showed that C calf was underestimated when F filt was not accounted for (all P < 0.01). F filt was higher in women (P < 0.01) and showed a more pronounced effect on C calf compared to men (P < 0.05). The impact of F filt was similar during 4- and 8-min VOP. CONCLUSIONS: P cuff is an adequate substitute for P iv in the lower limb. F filt is associated with an underestimation of C calf and differences in the effect of F filt during VOP can be accounted for with the correction model. Thus, our model seems to be a valuable tool in future studies of venous wall function.

Thirst response to acute hypovolaemia in healthy women and women prone to vasovagal syncope.

The present study measured self-perceived thirst and plasma angiotensin II (ATII) concentrations during graded hypovolaemic stress, induced by lower body negative pressure (LBNP), to elucidate the dependence of thirst on haemodynamics. A total of 24 women aged between 20 and 36 (mean age, 23) years rated their thirst on a visual analogue scale, graded from 0 to 100, when LBNP of 20, 30 and 40 mmHg was applied. Half of the women had a history of vasovagal syncope (VVS). The results showed that the thirst score increased three-fold when LBNP was applied, from 11 (median; 25th-75th percentiles, 9-25) to 34 (27-53; P<0.001). The women in the VVS group had twice as great an increase as those without a history of VVS (P<0.02). The plasma ATII concentration increased significantly in response to LBNP, both in the VVS group and in the control group, but the changes did not correlate with thirst. Application of LBNP decreased systolic and mean arterial pressures, cardiac output and pulse pressure (P<0.001 for all), but thirst correlated only with increase in heart rate and, independently, with reduction of mean arterial pressure. In conclusion, thirst and ATII increase in response to hypovolaemic stress, but are not statistically related. The haemodynamic parameter that was most strongly related to thirst was tachycardia.