Hyperprolactinemia and Galactorrhea Following Single Epidural Steroid Injection

Won, Seok Kyu; Chun, Yong Suk; Suk, Min Ho; Shim, Jae Chol

Abstract

Epidural steroid injection have become one of the most frequently applied conservative option for the management of acute and chronic back pain. As the indications for epidural steroid injections increase so do the adverse responses associated with this procedure. This study reports the succession of 3 patients who developed galactorrhea and hyperprolactinemia after recieving an epidural steroid injection for lumbar radiculopathy and low back pain. Serum prolactin level was elevated in accordance with epidural injection of corticosteroid. We measured the serum prolactin level by immunoradiometric assay method and peak serum prolactin level at above 500, 144.2, 150.3 ng/ml respectively. Also we found the serum prolactin level decreased to nonnal values 3 wks after corticosteroid injection. Galactorrhra ceased in advance of decrease of serum prolactin level. That "Hyperprolactinemia and galactorrhea can occur following epidural steroid injection", requires a much larger prospective investigation.