title: Vertebral bone density in non-amenorrhoeic hyperprolactinaemic women.
abstract: Recently, a decrease in bone mineral content (BMC) in hyperprolactinaemic women with long-lasting amenorrhoea has been reported, and attributed either to a direct effect of PRL on bone or secondary to the oestrogen deficiency. To verify if PRL by itself has a direct effect on bone, we have studied BMC at the lumbar level by double-photon absorptiometry in 22 patients with hyperprolactinaemia, selected on the basis of normal or near-normal oestradiol levels. The results were compared with those obtained in 28 healthy closely-matched women, and seven hyperprolactinaemic patients with long-lasting amenorrhoea and oestrogen deficiency. No significant difference in BMC was observed between hyperprolactinaemic patients with normal oestrogen levels (mean +/- SEM = 3.87 +/- 0.10 gHA/cm) and normal subjects (mean +/- SEM = 3.76 +/- 0.10 gHA/cm). Moreover, no significant change was observed during a 6 month follow-up in 13 patients. On the other hand, a significant difference (P less than 0.05) was detected in BMC between the hyperprolactinaemic patients with normal oestradiol levels and those with long-lasting amenorrhoea and oestrogen deficiency (mean +/- SEM = 3.39 +/- 0.18). These results suggest that hyperprolactinaemia by itself is not a risk factor for the development of osteoporosis.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biomedicina Endocrino-Metabolica e Gastroenterologica, Università di Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ciccarelli
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Savino
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Carlevatto
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bertagna
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Isaia
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Camanni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000097:blood; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006966:Hyperprolactinemia / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008903:Minerals / Q000032:analysis*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging
chemical_list: D008903:Minerals; D004958:Estradiol; D011388:Prolactin