Preserved prolactin fluctuations and response to metoclopramide in ovulatory, infertile, hyperprolactinemic women.
The study included 18 infertile, hyperprolactinemic women with preserved menstrual cycles. Among 13 women with consistently elevated prolactin (PRL) levels, 6 had either anovulatory cycles or luteal insufficiency, whereas 7 had apparently normal ovulatory cycles. Comparisons of these two groups showed that basal levels were similar but the PRL response to metoclopramide (MTC) and the day-to-day fluctuations were significantly lower in the group with altered ovulatory function. In this group the PRL response to MTC was significantly greater than in control patients with hyperprolactinemic amenorrhea (n = 12), but lower than in normal women (n = 10). The PRL response to MTC in hyperprolactinemic women with normal ovulatory function did not differ significantly from that of normal women, irrespective of whether hyperprolactinemia was sustained (n = 7) or intermittent (n = 5). The study indicates that the degree of autonomy of PRL secretion reflected by both the fluctuations in basal levels and the response to a dopamine antagonist, may be used to evaluate whether or not slightly elevated PRL levels are of clinical significance in relation to fertility.
D000328:Adult; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000097:blood; D000858:Anovulation / Q000097:blood; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008787:Metoclopramide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010060:Ovulation / Q000187:drug effects; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D013739:Testosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D011388:Prolactin; D008787:Metoclopramide