[Fertility in prolactinomas--considerations concerning some clinical cases].
Prolactinoma is a frequent endocrine cause of infertility in both man and women. The aim of this study was to evaluate female fertility in association with hyperprolactinemia. The study is a retrospective one, based on the cases monitored in the Endocrinology Department of Iaşi. From the 113 cases of prolactinoma in women we have selected 83 women aged between 18-45 years (fertile age). The diagnosis was suspected on clinical bases: endocrine (amenorrhea-galactorrhea, associated or isolated, spaniomenorrhea, infertility), and tumoral (headache, visual disturbances) syndromes and confirmed by biological (PRL dosage) and morphological (pituitary CT) tests. We classified the found associations between prolactinoma and fertility in: no correlation (previous pregnancies with no desire for another child--76 patients = 75.2%); prolactinoma diagnosed immediately after a pregnancy by persistency of galactorrhea, lack of menses reapparition, headache (16 cases = 15.8%); prolactinoma diagnosed before pregnancy, which was obtained thanks to the hyperprolactinemia treatment (9 patients = 8.9%). All 9 patients of the last group were in remission at the moment of pregnancy apparition and had a normal pregnancy, giving birth to normal children. Infertility associated with prolactinoma is reversible with treatment. Lowering of prolactin levels to normal is often necessary to permit ovulation. Bromocriptine used by pregnant women appears to be safe for the developing fetus, at least in our study where the treatment was interrupted in most cases in the first trimester of pregnancy.
Ionescu
O
O
Facultatea de Medicină, Clinica Endocrinologică, Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie Gr. T. Popa Iaşi.
Vulpoi
C
C
Ungureanu
M C
MC
Ionescu
D
D
Zbranca
E
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001971:Bromocriptine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D015175:Prolactinoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D001971:Bromocriptine; D011388:Prolactin