Menstrual function and serum prolactin levels after long-term bromocriptine treatment of hyperprolactinaemic amenorrhoea.
Long-term bromocriptine treatment was discontinued in thirty-seven women with hyperprolactinaemic amenorrhoea. After cessation of therapy thirty of the thirty-seven women became hyperprolactinaemic again with amenorrhoea or anovulatory bleeding. Seven of the women continued to have regular ovulatory menstruation but only three were normoprolactinaemic 3 months after stopping treatment. Two of the seven women had evidence of pituitary tumour regression. After the discontinuation they had nearly normal prolactin levels but during 2 years of follow up the serum prolactin levels slowly increased. In the twenty-seven women with pre treatment prolactin levels below 100 micrograms/I there was no difference between the prolactin levels before starting and 1 month after stopping treatment, while the women with pretreatment prolactin levels above 100 micrograms/l had lower levels after therapy. Bromocriptine treatment seldom results in permanent cure of hyperprolactinaemic amenorrhoea.
D000328:Adult; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001971:Bromocriptine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008598:Menstruation; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D013997:Time Factors
D001971:Bromocriptine; D011388:Prolactin