A Clinical Study of Hyperprolactinemia in Women with Different Menstrual Patterns

Hur, Eui Jong; Park, Jin Wan; Lee, Won Ki

Abstract

Disorders derived from abnormal prolactin(PRL) production are relatively common ingynecological practice. Infertility, menstrual disorders, and galactorrhea are the most frequentmanifestations encountered in women. And, although frequently benign, the disordersoccasionally may have severe consequences.We studied 341 infertile women with normal menstruation(N group) and 105 womenwith oligomenorrhea(O group) and 70 women with secondary amenorrhea(A group), first; to investigate the prevalence of hyperprolactinemia(hPRL) and its clinical etiologies in 3groups, second; to estimate the effect of the bromocriptine(BRMC) treatment in N group,and finally; to obtain an understanding of the underlying physiology and pathoghysiologycoupled with the awareness of the hetrogeneous presentation of hPRL from June, 1994 toDecember, 1996.The results of this study were as follows;1. There were no significant correlations of serum PRL levels by ages in 3 groups.2. The prevalence rates of conventional hPRL(PRL>25ng/mL) were 18.2% in N group,22.9% in O group, 28.6% in A group and were not different among 3 groups(P=0.12).But the rates of PRL>50 ng/mL were 4.7%, 7.6%, 20.0%, respectively and were different(p < 0.01).3. The most common causes of hPRL were prolactinomas(9.3%) and thyroid disorders(4.7%) except the undiagnosed(72.1%).4. The cumulative pregnancy rates of 6~24 months duration were not different betweenBRMC-treated women(33.3%) and BRMC-untreated women(38.9%) in N group(p=0.92).