An Association of Serum Prolactin in Diabetic vs Non-Diabetic Chronic Kidney Disease Patients in Tertiary Care Centre in North Eastern UP

Abstract

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with endocrine disturbances, including hyperprolactinemia due to impaired renal clearance and altered neuroendocrine regulation. Diabetes may further influence prolactin levels through metabolic and renal abnormalities.

Aim & Objective: This study assessed serum prolactin in diabetic and non-diabetic CKD patients and its association with cardiovascular findings.

Material & Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted at the Department of General Medicine, Moti Lal Nehru Medical College, Prayagraj, from March 2025 to March 2026. One hundred adults with established CKD were consecutively enrolled, comprising 59 diabetic and 41 non-diabetic patients. Patients with conditions or medications known to increase prolactin were excluded. Demographic, clinical and laboratory parameters, including serum prolactin, creatinine, eGFR, urea, glycemic indices, dialysis status and cardiovascular findings, were assessed. Appropriate statistical tests and correlation/association analyses were applied.

Results: Mean serum prolactin was significantly higher in diabetic than non-diabetic CKD patients (75.84 ± 55.20 vs. 28.08 ± 28.93 ng/mL; p<0.001). Diabetic patients also had higher serum creatinine and urea and lower eGFR (all p<0.001). Hemodialysis was more frequent among diabetic patients (59.32% vs. 36.59%; p=0.04). Across the study population, prolactin was significantly higher among patients receiving hemodialysis than those not receiving dialysis (79.07 ± 52.30 vs. 33.44 ± 40.23 ng/mL; p<0.001). Prolactin differed significantly across cardiovascular categories (p<0.01), with the highest mean level in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (80.72 ± 52.31 ng/mL).

Conclusion: Serum prolactin was markedly elevated in diabetic CKD and was associated with greater renal dysfunction, dialysis dependence and cardiovascular abnormalities. These findings suggest that prolactin may reflect the severity of endocrine and systemic disturbances in CKD. Further prospective studies are required to determine its independent cardiovascular significance.

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