Macroprolactinemia Detection by Magnetically Assisted Polyethylene Glycol Precipitation: Potential for Automation. 2020

Thomas Smith, and Eric Stern, and Enqing Tan, and Aleksandar Vacic, and Michael Fahie-Wilson
Department of Endocrinology, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin 4, Ireland.

Macroprolactin is an immunoglobulin-prolactin complex that is not bioactive in vivo but the prolactin component remains immunoreactive. The complex is a universal source of interference in prolactin immunoassays and commonly results in misdiagnosis of hyperprolactinemia with consequent clinical mismanagement of patients. Removal of macroprolactin by precipitation with polyethylene glycol (PEG) is an effective technique for identifying such patients but unfortunately not universally employed due to the manual nature of the procedure. We developed a modified PEG precipitation technique using magnetic nanoparticles that we termed Magnetically Assisted PEG Precipitation (MAPP). This procedure was verified against an established PEG precipitation procedure. The MAPP procedure we developed was robust, reproducible, and affords the potential for automation of macroprolactin screening in clinical laboratories. Comparisons of prolactin levels obtained following MAPP in sera from patients with either true hyperprolactinemia or macroprolactinemia generated results comparable to that of conventional PEG precipitation. The MAPP technique yields results comparable to those of traditional PEG precipitation. Elimination of the need for centrifugation affords the possibility of automation and hence more widespread adoption of routine PEG screening by clinical laboratories.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D006966 Hyperprolactinemia Increased levels of PROLACTIN in the BLOOD, which may be associated with AMENORRHEA and GALACTORRHEA. Relatively common etiologies include PROLACTINOMA, medication effect, KIDNEY FAILURE, granulomatous diseases of the PITUITARY GLAND, and disorders which interfere with the hypothalamic inhibition of prolactin release. Ectopic (non-pituitary) production of prolactin may also occur. (From Joynt, Clinical Neurology, 1992, Ch36, pp77-8) Prolactin Hypersecretion Syndrome,Prolactin, Inappropriate Secretion,Hyperprolactinaemia,Inappropriate Prolactin Secretion,Inappropriate Prolactin Secretion Syndrome,Hyperprolactinemias,Hypersecretion Syndrome, Prolactin,Inappropriate Secretion Prolactin,Prolactin Secretion, Inappropriate,Secretion Prolactin, Inappropriate,Secretion, Inappropriate Prolactin,Syndrome, Prolactin Hypersecretion
D011092 Polyethylene Glycols Polymers of ETHYLENE OXIDE and water, and their ethers. They vary in consistency from liquid to solid depending on the molecular weight indicated by a number following the name. They are used as SURFACTANTS, dispersing agents, solvents, ointment and suppository bases, vehicles, and tablet excipients. Some specific groups are NONOXYNOLS, OCTOXYNOLS, and POLOXAMERS. Macrogols,Polyoxyethylenes,Carbowax,Macrogol,Polyethylene Glycol,Polyethylene Oxide,Polyethyleneoxide,Polyglycol,Glycol, Polyethylene,Glycols, Polyethylene,Oxide, Polyethylene,Oxides, Polyethylene,Polyethylene Oxides,Polyethyleneoxides,Polyglycols,Polyoxyethylene
D011232 Chemical Precipitation The formation of a solid in a solution as a result of a chemical reaction or the aggregation of soluble substances into complexes large enough to fall out of solution. Precipitation, Chemical
D011388 Prolactin A lactogenic hormone secreted by the adenohypophysis (PITUITARY GLAND, ANTERIOR). It is a polypeptide of approximately 23 kD. Besides its major action on lactation, in some species prolactin exerts effects on reproduction, maternal behavior, fat metabolism, immunomodulation and osmoregulation. Prolactin receptors are present in the mammary gland, hypothalamus, liver, ovary, testis, and prostate. Lactogenic Hormone, Pituitary,Mammotropic Hormone, Pituitary,Mammotropin,PRL (Prolactin),Hormone, Pituitary Lactogenic,Hormone, Pituitary Mammotropic,Pituitary Lactogenic Hormone,Pituitary Mammotropic Hormone
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D057205 Automation, Laboratory Controlled operations of analytic or diagnostic processes, or systems by mechanical or electronic devices. Laboratory Automation
D060328 Magnetic Phenomena Characteristics, properties, and effects of magnetic substances and magnetic fields. Magnetic Phenomenon,Phenomena, Magnetic,Phenomenon, Magnetic

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