Symptomatic Hyperprolactinemia: A Six Years of Experience

Abstract

To determine the underlying etiologies among hyperprolactinemic cases, evaluate treatment options and patient compliance.
Methods: We evaluated the data of 111 hyperporlactinemic patients, admitted to our clinic with hyperprolactinemia from 1999 through 2005 retrospectively.
Results: One-hundred-six (95.5%) women, 5 (4.5%) men, mean age of 34.7 ± 11.0 years, were included. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedures revealed; adenoma in 78 (73.58%) patients; microadenoma in 65 (61.32%), macroadenoma in 13 (12.2%) and normal findings in 28 (26.4%). Microprolactinoma was most prevalent among women (n=68, 64.1%), whereas it was macroprolactinoma among men (n=3, 60%). Higher levels of prolactin were detected in macroadenomas (p<0.05). Cabergoline was the drug of choice for 78.7%,bromocriptine for 28.8 % of cases. Among 82 patients, who were consuming medicine, 57 (69.5%) were on regular follow-up; 23 ± 14 months. Although their tumor size decreased in varying degrees, there was no change among 25 (43.9%) cases, moreover, 10 subjects (17.5%) experienced an increase despite appropriate therapy.
Conclusions: Our data was compatible with literature. However, the relatively higher number of cases who were resistant to therapy was a question of debate. We think that in such cases, it is necessary to recheck diagnostic procedures and the patient compliance cautiously.