title: Prolactin levels in the polycystic ovary syndrome.
abstract: Plasma prolactin (PRL) was measured in 34 patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCO) before and after the intravenous administration of 200 micrograms of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH). The results were compared with those from 30 normal female volunteers. The distinctive features of PCO were elevated plasma concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone and androstenedione and increased 24-hour urinary estrogen excretion. Abnormal secretion of PRL was observed in ten patients with PCO. Hyperprolactinemia was detected in five patients, and the prolactin response to TRH was exaggerated or prolonged in five normoprolactinemic patients with PCO. A statistically significant correlation was found between mean prolactin concentrations and the mean plasma dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) concentration (r = 0.67, p less than 0.01). These data suggest that a significant portion of women with PCO syndrome have abnormalities of PRL secretion.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D004967:Estrogens / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone