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Subject:
From:
Kathleen Bruce <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Wed, 1 Apr 1998 20:36:03 -0500
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This from a friend...

Today I received my first issue of Arthritis Today, and happened on an
article that puts a connection between breastfeeding (prolactin) and
rheumatoid arthritis. I'd like to see the original article this was based
on. Have copied pertinent parts of the article in AT; also copied what I
could find on the net about the article it referenced (abstract) and mention
of another.

First, the article that sent me on this search: From March-April, 1998 issue
of Arthritis Today, in the section titled Research Spotlight, 3rd item, p. 20:

"More on the Hormone Connection"
[italics] The link between a milk-producing hormone and autoimmune arthritis
is getting stronger.
   "A large body of circumstantial evidence suggests that prolactin - the
hormone that initiates and maintains milk production in lactating women - is
related to the autoimmune disorders rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and lupus."
   "While women with RA usually go into remission during pregnancy, those
who breastfeed - and, thus, maintain high levels of prolactin longer - are
more likely to have their disease return than new mothers who don't nurse.
Furthermore, abnormally high prolactin levels (not associated with
breastfeeding) have been associated with lupus and have even turned up in
men with RA."
   "Now, new evidence is pointing to a gentic link between prolactin and the
two disorders. The gene that codes for the prolactin hormone is located on
the choromosome 6 - the same chromosome in the same region as the HLA series
of genes, which are believed to play important roles in the body's immune
response."
<snipping out a few paragraphs of technical and genetic stuff that doesn't
seem to relate to breastfeeding>
   "Ollier and his colleagues don't yet know what role the different
prolactin gene subtypes may play in the development of RA or lupus. One clue
is that prolactin, in addition to being produced in the pituitary gland for
its role in lactation, is also made by lymphocytes - a type of white blood
cell involved in the immune process."
"'Prolactin seems to have profound effect in regulating the immune
response,' says Ollier, 'but we won't yet speculate on how that might be
related to these diseases.'"
   "Source: Arthritis and Rheumatism, Vol. 40, No. 8"

I did a search for this article on Northern Lights, found part of it plus a
reference to Lancet, and the rest of this note is copied directly from the
web pages accessed through <http://www.northernlight.com>

...................

2.  Are both genetic and reproductive associations with rheumatoid
arthritis linked ...
90% - Articles & General info: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may be
associated with high blood levels of the hormone prolactin and a
specific HLA gene.... 07/13/96
Lancet (magazine):  Available at Northern Light [to buy reprint of article]

3.  Arthritis & Rheumatism
85% - Articles & General info:  Return to Arthritis &
Rheumatism Page Arthritis & Rheumatism Official Journal of the
American College of Rheumatology VOLUME 40, August 1997,
NO. 8 Special Articles... 10/21/97
Non-profit site:  http://www.rheumatology.org/ar/aug97.html

[From this site:]

Allelic Markers Close to Prolactin are Associated with HLA-DRB1
Susceptibility Alleles Among Women with Rheumatoid
Arthritis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Paul Brennan, Ali Hajeer, Kai Ren Ong, Jane Worthington, Sally John, Wendy
Thomson, Alan Silman, and Bill Ollier 1383

The results of this study suggest that the contribution of prolactin to both
rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus
might be under control of genes linked to HLA. This raises the possibility
that treatment aimed at reducing the proinflammatory
effect of prolactin may be of value in a genetically determined subgroup of
affected individuals.
Kathleen B. Bruce, BSN, IBCLC co-owner Lactnet,TLC, Indep. Consultant
mailto:[log in to unmask]
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