title: Medical therapy of macroprolactinomas in males: I. Prevalence of hypopituitarism at diagnosis. II. Proportion of cases exhibiting recovery of pituitary function.
abstract: Hyperprolactinaemia frequently causes secondary hypogonadism through central suppression of gonadotropin secretion. Macroprolactinomas (> 1 cm diameter) are more common in males and may additionally cause more generalised hypopituitarism. Recovery of the thyrotropic and/or corticotropic axes is well described following selective adenomectomy, but remains poorly defined in relation to medical (dopamine-agonist) therapy of macroprolactinomas. We therefore performed a retrospective examination of case records of male patients who had received medical therapy alone for macroprolactinoma between 1980-2001 (n = 35) and in whom tumor shrinkage was documented by interval pituitary imaging (reported throughout by a single neuroradiologist). Mean prolactin level at baseline was 59,932 mU/L (median 31,400; range 3,215-332,000); mean period of follow up was 4.2 years (median 2.6; range: 1.0-15). Defects of the following axes were evident at diagnosis: LH/FSH-testosterone (n = 27; 77%), TSH-T4 (n = 14; 41%-not including one case with pre-existing 1 degress hypothyroidism), ACTH-cortisol (n = 8; 23%). Overall, 14 men (40%) were deficient in 1 axis, seven (20%) in 2 axes and seven (20%) in 3 axes. Growth hormone secretory status was not systematically evaluated. In all but 6 patients, prolactin levels fell to normal or near-normal levels (mean 764 mU/L; median 260; range: < 10-4,833). Of the patients in whom adequate reassessment had been performed, thyrotroph function recovered in 4/9, corticotroph function in 4/6 and gonadotroph function in 16/26 cases. In four cases (11%) previously described, development of visual impairment as a result of the chiasmal traction syndrome necessitated a dose reduction in medical therapy to allow a degree of controlled tumor re-expansion. The prevalence at diagnosis of TSH and ACTH deficiency in men with macroprolactinomas was 41% and 23%, respectively. Among eight patients with insufficiency of TSH and/or ACTH secretion who underwent complete interval reassessment over several years of treatment, recovery of at least one axis occurred in six cases (75%). This study highlights the importance of screening ACTH- and/or TSH-deficient men during dopamine agonist therapy in order to identify cases where hypopituitarism has resolved.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE1 4LP.
authors.forename: Latika
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sibal
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ugwu
authors.forename: Pat
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kendall-Taylor
authors.forename: Steve G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.forename: R Andy
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: Simon H S
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Pearce
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Quinton
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D001971:Bromocriptine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077465:Cabergoline; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004873:Ergolines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007018:Hypopituitarism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010479:Pergolide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010901:Pituitary Function Tests; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D015175:Prolactinoma / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D004873:Ergolines; D010479:Pergolide; D001971:Bromocriptine; D013739:Testosterone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D013972:Thyrotropin; D000077465:Cabergoline