title: Hyperprolactinaemia does not always mean 'hyperprolactinaemia'!
abstract: The presence of macroprolactinaemia was investigated in the symptom-free hyperprolactinaemia cases to reveal its incidence. The serum prolactin (PRL) fractions in 21 female patients with hyperprolactinaemia without any clinical symptoms were analyzed with PEG (polyethylene glycol precipitation) procedure. In 14 of these 21 cases, hyperprolactinaemia was detected with a high fraction of macroprolactin. In cases with asymptomatic hyperprolactinaemia, it is more appropriate to employ the PEG precipitation test to detect the disorder. High levels of serum prolactin, do not essentially indicate the presence of a prolactinoma but may only indicate macroprolactinaemia.
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Cerrahpaşa School of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey. agezer@superonline.com
authors.forename: Altay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gezer
authors.forename: Turgay
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Atasü
authors.forename: Can
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hekim
authors.forename: Ulf H
authors.initials: UH
authors.lastname: Stenman
authors.forename: Nezih
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hekim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D011232:Chemical Precipitation; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006966:Hyperprolactinemia / Q000097:blood*; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000097:blood; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D015175:Prolactinoma / Q000097:blood; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: C060678:prolactin, polymeric; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011388:Prolactin