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Lookup NU author(s): Professor Konstantinos StellosORCiD
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© 2017 Macmillan Publishers Limited, part of Springer Nature. All rights reserved. Postmenopausal women are at increased risk for progression of arteriosclerosis and hypertension. Recent cross-sectional evidence suggests that high normal circulating prolactin levels may accelerate vascular ageing in menopause. Postmenopausal women (n=201) were consecutively recruited from a Menopause Clinic and re-evaluated in at least one follow-up visit within the next 3 years. Baseline circulating prolactin levels were measured while both baseline and follow-up vascular and biochemical measurements were performed. Endothelial function was assessed by flow-mediated dilation (FMD), aortic stiffness by pulse-wave velocity (PWV) and arterial wave reflections by applanation tonometry. Baseline prolactin significantly correlated with lower FMD at follow-up (P=0.005). After multivariable adjustment for age, follow-up time, blood pressure (BP), body mass index, smoking and medication, this correlation remained significant (P=0.003). In addition, baseline circulating prolactin levels were independently associated with changes in mean BP (β=0.131, P=0.021), peripheral diastolic BP (β=0.169, P=0.004) and new-onset hypertension (OR=1.235, P=0.001). Owing to significant interaction between baseline prolactin and age for changes in PWV over time (P=0.036), a subgroup analysis based on median age was performed. This analysis revealed that in women younger than 55 years, prolactin was an independent predictor of changes in PWV over time (P=0.008). In conclusion, high normal circulating prolactin levels predict changes in haemodynamic indices and worsening endothelial function in healthy postmenopausal women. Particularly in young postmenopausal women, prolactin predicts accelerated arterial stiffening.
Author(s): Georgiopoulos G, Lambrinoudaki I, Athanasouli F, Armeni E, Koliviras A, Augoulea A, Rizos D, Papamichael C, Protogerou A, Stellos K, Stamatelopoulos K
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Journal of Human Hypertension
Year: 2017
Volume: 31
Issue: 8
Pages: 520-524
Online publication date: 23/03/2017
Acceptance date: 25/01/2017
ISSN (print): 0950-9240
ISSN (electronic): 1476-5527
Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
URL: https://doi.org/10.1038/jhh.2017.15
DOI: 10.1038/jhh.2017.15
PubMed id: 28332508
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