The value of prolactin dynamics as a predictor of ovulation with bromocriptine in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.
Six euprolactinemic polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients were subjected to a 24-hour study with serum sampling every 30 minutes and a perphenazine stimulation test. The serum prolactin (PRL) levels were compared with those of five healthy normoprolactinemic women whose cases were evaluated in a similar fashion. In addition to evaluating the PRL secretory pattern and lactotroph response, the PCOS individuals were given dopamine agonist therapy in a graduated dosage schedule, increasing each month, over a 3-month interval. The PCOS patients exhibited parallel but lower PRL levels than the control subjects during the late evening and early morning hours (P less than 0.0001) and were less responsive to perphenazine at the 6-hour sampling (P less than 0.05). Only one PCOS individual had suggestive evidence of ovulation over the 15 cycles the group was monitored. Therefore, we conclude that euprolactinemic PCOS patients who are nocturnal hyposecretors of PRL and who hyporespond to a perphenazine stimulation test are not likely to ovulate on bromocriptine in the dosages used in this study.
D000328:Adult; D001971:Bromocriptine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010060:Ovulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D010546:Perphenazine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism*
D001971:Bromocriptine; D011388:Prolactin; D010546:Perphenazine