title: The use of high-dose daily cabergoline in an adolescent patient with macroprolactinoma.
abstract: Prolactinomas are rare in children and adolescents but well studied in adults. Dopamine agonists are the treatment of choice for all ages. Bromocriptine is the only agonist approved for use in pediatric patients by the FDA. Cabergoline, a second-generation ergot derivative with a longer half-life, has been used in resistant prolactinomas and as first-line treatment in adults. The authors describe an adolescent boy with a pituitary macroadenoma with an initial prolactin level of 73,777 ng/mL. After failing to respond to bromocriptine and standard-dose cabergoline, he responded well to very high daily doses of cabergoline (1.5 mg daily), with a current prolactin level of 726 ng/mL and notable reduction in tumor size. Escalating doses of cabergoline should be considered in pediatric patients with dopamine-resistant prolactinomas.
authors.affiliation: AFLAC Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, 1405 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. Della.Howell@choa.org
authors.forename: Della L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Howell
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wasilewski
authors.forename: Claire M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Mazewski
authors.forename: Roger J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Hudgins
authors.forename: Lillian R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Meacham
mesh_terms: D001971:Bromocriptine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077465:Cabergoline; D002648:Child; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004873:Ergolines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015175:Prolactinoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D004873:Ergolines; D001971:Bromocriptine; D000077465:Cabergoline