Body fat in nonobese women with prolactinoma treated with dopamine agonists.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate body fat in nonobese women with prolactinoma treated with dopamine agonists, using whole body dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and to correlate DXA results with biochemical data and clinical aspects of the prolactinoma.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was performed in two University referral centres. Thirty-one nonobese premenopausal women with prolactinoma were subjected to DXA and blood analysis at clinical evaluation. They were compared with 21 control women of similar age and body mass index (BMI).


RESULTS
Women with prolactinoma treated with dopamine agonists and controls had similar body fat percentages in all sites evaluated with DXA (arms, legs, trunk, android, gynoid and total body). Patients with normal PRL levels at study entry had lower body fat percentages in all sites. In the patient group, arm, leg, truncal, android, gynoid and total body fat were positively associated with PRL levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Body fat percentage is similar in nonobese women with prolactinoma and in controls. The lower body fat content in patients with normal PRL levels is likely to be due to the metabolic effects of adequate dopamine receptor type 2 (DR2) activation as a result of regular dopamine agonist treatment. This finding reinforces the importance of the appropriate treatment with dopamine agonists in women with prolactinoma, which, besides normalizing PRL levels, reduces body fat content and the consequent risk of developing Metabolic Syndrome and its complications.
Naliato
Erika C O
EC
Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Hyperprolactinemia Unit, Clementino Fraga Filho University Hospital, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. erikanaliato@uol.com.br
Violante
Alice H D
AH
Caldas
Dayse
D
Lamounier Filho
Adilson
A
Loureiro
Christiane R
CR
Fontes
Rosita
R
Schrank
Yolanda
Y
Souza
Rodrigo G
RG
Costa
Patricia L M
PL
Colao
Annamaria
A
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000502:physiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D015175:Prolactinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013006:Growth Hormone