title: The effect of oral contraception on macroprolactin levels in women with macroprolactinemia: A pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite a high prevalence of macroprolactinemia in the population, the only drugs found to change macroprolactin (big-big prolactin) levels were dopamine receptor agonists.
  
  
  METHODS
  The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of oral contraceptive pills containing ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel on serum macroprolactin levels in patients with macroprolactinemia. The study population included 21 premenopausal women with isolated macroprolactinemia, 11 of whom were treated with oral contraceptive pills. Serum prolactin and macroprolactin levels were assessed at baseline and after 16 weeks of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Oral contraceptive pills administered for 16 weeks slightly increased pre-polyethylene glycol serum prolactin levels and macroprolactin levels and the effect of this treatment correlated with their baseline values.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that oral contraceptive pills containing ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel exhibit a stimulatory effect on macroprolactin production in women with basically high macroprolactin levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland. Electronic address: r.krysiak@interia.pl.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Krysiak
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland; Department of Endocrinology, Provincial Hospital, Opole, Poland.
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kowalska
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Witold
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Szkróbka
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Bogusław
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Okopień
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016912:Levonorgestrel / Q000494:pharmacology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017697:Premenopause; D015995:Prevalence; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal; C060678:prolactin, polymeric; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D016912:Levonorgestrel; D011388:Prolactin
keywords: Contraception; Hyperprolactinemia; Macroprolactinemia; Polyethylene glycol assay