ABSTRACT
To compare the effects of cabergoline and bromocriptine on serum prolactin levels and liver and renal functions in hyperprolactinemic women. This study involved one hundred women, who had symptoms of hyperprolactinemia and elevated serum prolactin concentration. They were divided into two groups of 50 women. The first group received 0.5 mg of cabergoline weekly and the second group received bromocriptine up to a maximum of 2.5 mg twice daily. Serum prolactin, total bilirubin, serum alkaline phosphatase activity, AST activity, ALT activity, serum creatinine and serum urea concentrations and creatinine clearance were determined at baseline and at 8 week interval [at the end of the trial]. The efficacy of treatment was assessed with the regular menstrual cycle, absence of galactorrhea, oligomenorrhea and normalization of serum prolactin levels. Normalization of serum prolactin level was achieved in 28 of 50 [56%] women taking bromocriptine and in 40 of 50 [80%] women taking cabergoline. Cabergoline group showed a higher percent of improvement of the symptoms of hyperprolactinemia. Figures of 83.33% for amenorrhea, 71.4% for galactorrhea and 95.45% for oligomenorrhea have been noted with cabergoline versus 55.5%, 33.33% and 72%, respectively for bromocriptine. Sixty six percent of the women taking bromocriptine were reported to have adverse effects as compared with 30% of those taking cabergoline therapy. No significant adverse effects on liver and kidney functions have been reported in the study. The present study demonstrated that both bromocriptine and cabergoline are effective in the treatment of hyperprolactinemia but cabergoline has the advantage over bromocriptine in terms of both efficacy and tolerability. Therefore it is preferred in the treatment of women with hyperprolactinemia. However, both drugs showed no abnormality in liver function as well as kidney function tests