Quality of life in women with microprolactinoma treated with dopamine agonists.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate QOL in women with microprolactinomas treated with dopamine agonists, comparing the patients with normal versus those with elevated prolactin levels, and to identify clinical and biochemical influences on patients' QOL.


METHODS
A cross-sectional evaluation was performed in two University referral centers. Fifty women with microprolactinoma answered the SF-36 questionnaire by the time of their clinical evaluation. Their biochemical analysis included PRL, estradiol, testosterone, and SHBG. Fifty women of similar age distribution served as controls.


RESULTS
Patients had lower scores than controls in all SF-36 categories: physical functioning, physical role, pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, emotional aspect, and mental health. Within the patients' group, the ones with normal PRL levels had higher scores than those with high PRL levels in all categories but the physical role. The physical functioning score correlated with the free androgen index, while the pain, vitality, social functioning, emotional aspect, and mental health scores were associated with the prolactin levels obtained at study entry.


CONCLUSIONS
QOL is impaired in women with microprolactinoma treated with dopamine agonists, and was inversely associated with the PRL levels. This latter finding reinforces the importance of providing adequate disease control for these patients in order to avoid the adverse consequences of hyperprolactinemia on QOL.
Cesar de Oliveira Naliato
Erika
E
Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Hyperprolactinemia Unit, Clementino Fraga Filho University Hospital (HUCFF), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. erikanaliato@uol.com.br
Dutra Violante
Alice Helena
AH
Caldas
Dayse
D
Lamounier Filho
Adilson
A
Rezende Loureiro
Christiane
C
Fontes
Rosita
R
Schrank
Yolanda
Y
Gomes de Souza
Rodrigo
R
Vaisman
Mario
M
Guerra
Ermelinda
E
Sebastian
Arantzazu
A
Colao
Annamaria
A
D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001938:Brazil; D001971:Bromocriptine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077465:Cabergoline; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004873:Ergolines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D006966:Hyperprolactinemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D015175:Prolactinoma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D004873:Ergolines; D001971:Bromocriptine; D011388:Prolactin; D000077465:Cabergoline