title: Gender differences in prolactin elevation induced by olanzapine in Japanese drug-naïve schizophrenic patients.
abstract: We investigated the effect of gender on plasma prolactin levels in 20 Japanese drug-naïve schizophrenic patients [10 male, 10 female, aged 25.4+/-10.3 (mean+/-S.D.), range = 12-46 years] treated with olanzapine. Plasma prolactin levels were measured at baseline, and weeks 3 and 8 after starting titration of olanzapine. Comparisons of plasma prolactin levels between baseline and week 3, and between baseline and week 8 were made by repeated analysis of variance (ANOVA) and paired t-test. Two-way ANOVA showed a significant difference in olanzapine-induced prolactin changes between male and female patients (P = 0.037). In male patients (n = 10), the plasma concentration of prolactin at week 3 was significantly higher than at baseline (P = 0.016), but there was no significant difference between the plasma concentration of prolactin at week 8 and at baseline or week 3 (P = 0.191). In female patients (n = 10), there was a significant change of prolactin between baseline and week 3 (P = 0.005), and between baseline and week 8 (P = 0.047). Our results indicate the possibility of gender differences in prolactin elevation induced by olanzapine in Japanese drug-naïve schizophrenic patients. These gender-based findings may be helpful for clinicians when deciding the frequency of follow-up visits once a patient starts olanzapine therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 757 Asahimachidori-ichibancho, Niigata 951-8510, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazushi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sawamura
authors.forename: Yutaro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fukui
authors.forename: Takuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sugai
authors.forename: Toshiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Someya
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077152:Olanzapine; D018579:Patient Selection; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012727:Sex Characteristics
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D011388:Prolactin; D000077152:Olanzapine