ABSTRACT
The objective of the present work was to study specific clinical features of hyperprolactinemia in men and women. A total of 148 men and 138 women with hyperprolactinemia of tumorous and non-tumorous etiology were examined. Analysis of medical histories demonstrated that the period between the appearance of the first clinical symptoms and the establishment of diagnosis of hyperprolactinemia in men was longer than in women. The frequency, size, and invasiveness of macroprolactinomas were also different in the two sexes. Prolactin-secreting pituitary tumours in men showed more aggressive growth than in women. All the patients included in the study were examined for the measurement of monomeric prolactin (PRL) by separation of individual fractions in the precipitation reaction with 25% polyethyleneglycol. Macroprolactinemia occurred more frequently in women than in men. Total and monomeric PRL levels were higher in men with hyperprolactinemia of tumorous origin compared with women.
ABSTRACT
The question of the clinical importance of high-molecular prolactin forms is stressed in modern scientific literature on the problem of hyperprolactinemia. About 25% of all cases of hyperprolactinemia have been associated with the phenomenon of macroprolactinemia. This is most typical of patients with mild or moderate increase in prolactin level. There is no consensus on the therapeutic tactics in these patients. It should be discussed whether macroprolactin measurements should be done in all cases of high total prolactin level in order to prevent hyperdiagnostics and unnecessary additional laboratory tests and therapeutic intervention.
