Dear Bonny and Gayle
I'm sorry to say I missed the initial inquiry stimulating the following
response:
>
> Thank you so much for your interest. None of the women presented in the
> article has breast fed since the diagnosis so we do not have prospective
> direct information on the lactation experience in these subjects. I know of
> no articles that specifically address this issue. It is an interesting
> question. My guess is that women with persistent mastitis would have
> persistently elevated prolactin levels just from the constant breast
> irritation. Because prolactin is a pulsatile hormone it would be difficult
> to quantify the impact unless you could do several levels before and after
> the development of the mastitis.
> Gail F. Whitman-Elia
>
However, I just wanted to comment that studies have shown that there is no
significant change in the mean short-term rates of milk synthesis or 24 hour
milk production and either basal, or suckling -stimulated concentration of
prolactin in plasma from one to six months of age. Refs:
Cox & Hartmann. (1993) Plasma prolactin and the control of milk synthesis in
women. Neuroendocrinology. 58. (Supp 1):H31.
Cox,D.B., Owens, R.A., and Hartmann, P.E. (1996) Blood and milk prolactin
and the rate of milk synthesis in women. Experimental Physiology. 81:
1007-1020.
In fact, milk production remains fairly constant for this period of time in
women fully breastfeeding (742 +or- 79.4g/24hours) while the concentration
of  prolactin in plasma declines. (suggesting that production in established
lactation is under autocrine control of each individual breast) Because of
this I think it unlikely that variables such as "constant breast irritation"
would effect plasma prolactin concentrations during this period.
As I did miss the the previous post(s) on your topic of discussion I
apologise in advance if I've misunderstood the point being made.

Regards

Cathy Fetherston RM MSc IBCLC
Perth Western Australia

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