title: Chronic treatment with 2-alpha-bromocriptine in women with the hyperprolactinemic syndrome.
abstract: Seventeen hyperprolactinemic patients with or without radiological evidences of a pituitary adenoma, were submitted to a long term (7-36 months) suppressive treatment with bromocriptine. Nine patients conceived during the treatment. All of them had a normal pregnancy and delivered normal babies. In all patients (with the exception of one-patient Z.S.) the post treatment prolactin levels were significantly lower than the pre-treatment values suggesting a long lasting suppressive effect of this dopamine agonist on the pituitary lactotrophs. Three of the patients followed throughout a whole menstrual cycle (3-10 months after discontinuation of therapy) showed presumptive signs of ovulation in spite of relatively elevated circulating immuno-reactive prolactin concentrations. These observations might suggest a modification of the biological activity of the hormone, possibly related to the chronic treatment with bromocriptine.
mesh_terms: D001971:Bromocriptine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010060:Ovulation; D011247:Pregnancy; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D013577:Syndrome; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests
chemical_list: D001971:Bromocriptine; D011388:Prolactin