Comparative Study of Prolactin Levels in Acne and Non-Acne Individuals Among Students of College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi, Nigeria

Prolactin (PRL) is well recognized for its role(s) in mammary gland development and function as well as over three hundred non-lactational functions. However, androgens have a main role in acne pathogenesis and the interaction between prolactin and androgens generate the hypothesis of prolactin role in acne pathogenesis. Therefore a difference should exist in the prolactin hormone levels of acne individuals in comparison with non-acne individuals. The aim of this study was to make assessment and comparison of serum hormonal levels of prolactin in acne vulgaris individuals and non-acne individuals. In this cross-sectional case control study, serum levels of prolactin were collected and estimated in 60 subjects consisting of 30 males and 30 females each; of which 15 were the control group and 15, the test group in each category respectively. Also certain criteria’s were looked into such as subject’s age, state of health, menstrual patterns (for females) and much more. Data collected was analyzed using the Software Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). At the end of the experiment, the result showed no significant change (p<0.05), however mean serum prolactin levels were significantly high among the acne cases in both the males (12.26 ± 1.50) when compared to the control of males (8.80 ± 1.03), and also acne cases of the females (22.04 ± 4.59) when compared to the control of the females (12.92 ± 1.62) females. A non-significant change in the comparism of serum prolactin levels of acne subjects and non-acne subjects in both males and females may be as result of the small sample size used. However, more powerful studies are needed. An increase in the mean serum prolactin levels of acne subjects in both categories when compared to non-acne subjects indicates the contribution of prolactin in the pathogenesis of acne.