Hyperprolactinemia in postmenopausal women.
OBJECTIVE
To study the clinical cause and course of hyperprolactinemia in postmenopausal women.


METHODS
Retrospective case-note study.


METHODS
Tertiary care hospital.


METHODS
Six postmenopausal women with hyperprolactinemia.


METHODS
Clinical history and physical examination, serum levels of PRL, LH, FSH, computed tomography (CT) of the pituitary gland before and after treatment with bromocriptine.


RESULTS
At presentation, the mean age was 57.5 +/- 7.5 SD years. The mean level of PRL was 1,427 +/- 1,599 ng/mL (1,427 +/- 1,599 micrograms/L). All women suffered from secondary amenorrhea for a mean duration of 31.8 +/- 5.6 years. Five of six had galactorrhea at some time in the past. Pituitary imaging revealed a pituitary macroadenoma in four women, an enlarged sella suggestive of a pituitary macroadenoma in one woman, and a microadenoma in one. After treatment with bromocriptine, the PRL level decreased in all women to within normal limits. Five of six women developed hot flushes after the PRL level returned to normal.


CONCLUSIONS
Most cases of hyperprolactinemia in postmenopausal women are due to macroadenoma rather than microadenoma, the common finding in younger women. The clinical course is suggestive of a prolonged disease that was not detected earlier, although clinical signs were present. These findings are suggestive of an enlargement of microadenomas to macroadenomas as time passes.
Maor
Y
Y
Department of Internal Medicine 'A', Sheba Medical Center, Tel Aviv University, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
Berezin
M
M
D000236:Adenoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D000368:Aged; D001971:Bromocriptine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006966:Hyperprolactinemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D017698:Postmenopause; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary; D001971:Bromocriptine