Study on the screening method of macroprolactin in hyperprolactinemia

ObjectiveTo explore the effects of macroprolactin on the detection of prolactin(PRL), and the feasibility of the serum dilution polyethylene glycol(PEG) precipitation method in the screening of hyperprolactinemia(MP).

MethodsThe PRL levels in blood samples of 84 patients with serum PRL level >30.0 ng/mL were detected using the 5-fold dilution 25% PEG and PEG precipitation method.The recovery rate of PRL less than 50% was used as the standard for MP screening.The value of 25% PEG and 5-fold dilution 25% PEG in the diagnosis of MP were evaluated using ROC curve.

ResultsThe recovery rates of PRL in the eutrophic and hypertrophic groups were 116.0% and 63.0% using 5-fold dilution PEG precipitation method, and which was higher than those in traditional PEG precipitation method(42.0% and 101.0%), respectively(P < 0.05 and P < 0.01).The detection rate of dilution PEG precipitation method in genuine MP was 98.53%, which was higher than that of PEG precipitation method(88.23%)(P < 0.05).The area under the ROC curve of dilution PEG and PEG precipitation methods in diagnosing MP were 0.939(0.851 to 1.0) and 0.932(0.828 to 1.0), respectively.

ConclusionsThe 5-fold dilution PEG precipitation method can increase the recovery rate of PRL and detection rate of genuine MP.