Efficacy and safety of acupuncture for postpartum hypogalactia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Postpartum hypogalactia (PH) is prominent during lactation and may negatively impact the mother's or infant's health. Acupuncture is widely used to increase maternal breast milk production. However, the effects of acupuncture on PH remain unclear. Therefore, this review aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture in individuals with PH. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Articles on potentially eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on acupuncture for PH published from database inception to October 2023 were retrieved from the PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, EBSCO, Scopus, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, WanFang, and VIP databases. Two reviewers independently screened the records, extracted essential information, and evaluated the methodological quality of the RCTs using the revised Cochrane risk-of-bias (RoB) tool. The primary outcome was a change in serum prolactin (PRL) levels before and after treatment. Secondary outcomes included milk secretion volume (MSV), total effective rate (TER), mammary fullness degree (MFD), and exclusive breastfeeding rate (EBR). Meta-analyses were performed using RevMan v5.4. Finally, the quality of evidence was evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation tool. RESULTS: This study included 19 RCTs involving 2,400 participants. The included studies were classified as having an unclear to high RoB. Our findings indicated that, overall, acupuncture showed a significant effect in increasing serum PRL levels (standardized mean differences [SMDs] = 1.09, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.50, 1.68), MSV (SMD = 1.69, 95% CI: 0.53, 2.86), TER (relative risk [RR] = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.10, 1.42), and EBR (RR = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.07, 3.78) compared to that in the control group; however, no difference in MFD (SMD = 1.17, 95% CI: -0.09, 2.42) was observed. In the subgroup analysis, acupuncture combined with Chinese herbs or conventional treatment was significantly more effective in increasing serum PRL levels, MSV, and TER than did Chinese herbs or conventional treatment alone. Moreover, acupuncture alone resulted in significantly higher serum PRL levels compared to Chinese herbs; however, this benefit was not observed for TER and MFD. The quality of evidence was critically low. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture may effectively increase milk secretion in women with PH. However, owing to the low quality of evidence, further rigorously designed studies are warranted to confirm our findings.

Galactorrhea: Rapid Evidence Review.

Galactorrhea is the production of breast milk that is not the result of physiologic lactation. Milky nipple discharge within one year of pregnancy and the cessation of breastfeeding is usually physiologic. Galactorrhea is more often the result of hyperprolactinemia caused by medication use or pituitary microadenomas, and less often hypothyroidism, chronic renal failure, cirrhosis, pituitary macroadenomas, hypothalamic lesions, or unidentifiable causes. A pregnancy test should be obtained for premenopausal women who present with galactorrhea. In addition to prolactin and thyroid-stimulating hormone levels, renal function should also be assessed. Medications contributing to hyperprolactinemia should be discontinued if possible. Treatment of galactorrhea is not needed if prolactin and thyroid-stimulating hormone levels are normal and the discharge is not troublesome to the patient. Magnetic resonance imaging of the pituitary gland should be performed if the cause of hyperprolactinemia is unclear after a medication review and laboratory evaluation. Cabergoline is the preferred medication for treatment of hyperprolactinemia. Transsphenoidal surgery may be necessary if prolactin levels do not improve and symptoms persist despite high doses of cabergoline and in patients who cannot tolerate dopamine agonist therapy.

Idiopathic hyperprolactinemia - A challenge for primary care.

Hyperprolactinemia is a condition of elevated serum prolactin, which usually occurs in women as compared to men. Most patients present to primary care clinics with a history of galactorrhoea, oligomenorrhea, amenorrhoea or infertility. Literature search reveals that there were few idiopathic causes of hyperprolactinemia, which resolved by itself without specific pharmacological or surgical treatment. This case is of a 39-year-old woman presented with amenorrhea for four months after Implanon removal and concomitantly noted to have galactorrhoea for four years without any medical attention. The condition persisted after cessation of breastfeeding. After undergoing several investigations including imaging studies, the underlying cause of hyperprolactinemia was noted to be idiopathic. Due to the unclear cause of its aetiology, this case caused various challenges to the primary care. Exhaustive physiological and pathological causes of hyperprolactinemia have been ruled out. Nevertheless, with adequate treatment, she gained her normal menstrual and resolved galactorrhoea symptoms.

Diagnosis and Management of Breast Milk Oversupply.

Managing breastfeeding problems is an essential part of newborn care. While much is written on breast milk undersupply, little is written on oversupply, sometimes known as hyperlactation or hypergalactia. Infants of mothers with oversupply may have increased or decreased weight gain. Some may have large, frothy stools. They may develop a disordered latch. Mothers may report overly full, leaking breasts. Thyroid function should be assessed. Treatment is mostly anecdotal and includes methods to maintain breast fullness, such as block feedings. Pseudoephedrine and oral contraceptive pills may decrease the supply. Dopamine agonists such as carbergoline can be used as a last resort.

[Lactation after breast plastic surgery: literature review]. / Montée laiteuse après chirurgie plastique du sein: revue de la littérature.

The occurrence of lactation is a rare complication of breast plastic surgery. During the course of his practice, the plastic surgeon will probably encounter this complication. The goal of this article is to carry out a literature review of all published galactorrhea and/or galactocele cases following a breast-reduction or a breast-augmentation, representing a total of 34 cases reported in 21 articles. The physiopathology of this complication is linked to an inappropriate secretion of prolactin in a surgical context. The factors favoring this complication would be the number of pregnancies, a history of recent and extensive nursing, and the intake of certain medicines such as an oestro-progestative pill. The main symptom of this complication is the occurrence of a uni- or bilateral galactorrhea, on average 12.6 days after the surgery. The main differential diagnosis is a postoperative infection. The explorations presented a hyperprolactinemia in 69% of cases. No biological inflammatory syndrome was reported. A fluid collection evoking a galactocele was visible on the ultrasound in 65% of cases. One case of prolactin-secreting pituitary adenoma was reported. Depending on the case, the treatment varied from a simple surveillance to the association of a dopamine agonist, an antibiotic therapy, and a surgical revision. A diagnostic and therapeutic management strategy is proposed.

Evaluation and management of galactorrhea.

Galactorrhea is commonly caused by hyperprolactinemia, especially when it is associated with amenorrhea. Hyperprolactinemia is most often induced by medication or associated with pituitary adenomas or other sellar or suprasellar lesions. Less common causes of galactorrhea include hypothyroidism, renal insufficiency, pregnancy, and nipple stimulation. After pathologic nipple discharge is ruled out, patients with galactorrhea should be evaluated by measurement of their prolactin level. Those with hyperprolactinemia should have pregnancy ruled out, and thyroid and renal function assessed. Brain magnetic resonance imaging should be performed if no other cause of hyperprolactinemia is found. Patients with prolactinomas are usually treated with dopamine agonists (bromocriptine or cabergoline); surgery or radiation therapy is rarely required. Medications causing hyperprolactinemia should be discontinued or replaced with a medication from a similar class with lower potential for causing hyperprolactinemia. Normoprolactinemic patients with idiopathic, nonbothersome galactorrhea can be reassured and do not need treatment; however, those with bothersome galactorrhea usually respond to a short course of a low-dose dopamine agonist.

Treatment algorithm of galactorrhea after augmentation mammoplasty.

Galactorrhea is a known complication of breast surgery, particularly reduction mammoplasty. However, in augmentation mammoplasty, it is a rare event. There are only a few case reports concerning galactorrhea after augmentation mammoplasty. In this report, we present a case of galactorrhea that occurred at 2 weeks postoperatively in a 34-year-old woman who had undergone augmentation mammoplasty with silicone implants via a transaxillary approach. Endocrinologic tests including serum prolactin level, routine blood work, and breast ultrasonography were all normal. The authors decided to manage conservatively with close observation. After 1 month, the symptom resolved without sequelae, and no recurrence has been reported.

Galactorrhea after aesthetic breast augmentation with silicone implants: report of two cases and management of postoperative galactorrhea.

Galactorrhea is a rare event after breast augmentation. The physiopathologic bases of galactorrhea depend on the central secretion of prolactin. These physiopathologic bases must be clearly understood for the prevention and treatment of postoperative galactorrhea. This report describes two cases of a postoperative galactorrhea after aesthetic breast augmentation with silicone implants. The clinical appearance closely resembles a postoperative sepsis without hyperthermia. Bacteriologic samples are negative. Endocrinologic examination finds a characteristic hyperprolactinemia. The evolution is favorable under dopaminergic agonists.

Common breast concerns.

Breast concerns commonly occur in the outpatient setting and predominantly consist of breast pain, nipple discharge, and breast masses. Many of these concerns can be treated with reassurance and reevaluation, but not if the patient has risk factors for an underlying pathology. This article reviews the diagnosis and treatment of the three most common breast concerns encountered in primary care practices.

Características clínico bioquímicas de pacientes con patología hipofisaria / Clinical and biochemical characteristics of patients with pituitary disease

Objetivo: Los estudios descriptivos de patología hipofisaria en nuestro medio son escasos. Los adenomas pituitarios representan el 10-12% de todas las neoplasias intracraneales. Son tumores cuyo origen se encuentra en las células de la adenohipófisis, dependiendo de la estirpe el comportamiento clínico y bioquímico es diferente. El objetivo de nuestro estudio fue la descripción de las características clínicas y bioquímicas de los pacientes con patología hipofisaria de nuestro centro. Material y métodos: El estudio está basado en un análisis 58 pacientes con diagnóstico de tumor hipofisaria, en tratamiento y control periódico por la Sección de Endocrinología del Hospital Universitario Río Hortega de Valladolid entre los años 1999 y 2001. Se registraron los siguientes datos procedentes de la Historia Clínica de cada paciente: variables epidemiológicos, clínicos y analíticos. Resultados: La edad media en el momento del diagnóstico fue 36,4 años (DS 16,34 años), representando la población femenina el 70,61% del total. Los tumores más frecuentes fueron el prolactinoma y adenoma no funcionante siendo la amenorrea el motivo más frecuente de consulta al especialista (15%) y destacando el médico de Atención Primaria como el facultativo que con mayor frecuencia establece la sospecha diagnóstica. La resonancia magnética nuclear inicial se realizó en 54 pacientes, de las cuales un 15,5% era normal, y el 78,6% patológica, siendo los hallazgos más frecuentes los macro y microadenomas con una frecuencia ambos de 24,14%. Las lesiones invasivas (craneofaringiomas, germinomas, adenomas invasivos) constituyen el 6,9%. El síndrome depresivo, la hipertensión arterial y la diabetes mellitus en cualquiera de sus dos variantes destacaron como las patologías acompañantes más habituales en este tipo de pacientes. Conclusiones: Nuestro estudio demostró como el prolactinoma es la patología hipofisaria más frecuente. La amenorrea, seguida de la galactorrea o la combinación de ambas es la clínica inicial más predominante. La respuesta al tratamiento médico y quirúrgico de los prolactinomas fue excelente

Objective: Descriptive studies in our country of hypophisis diseases are uncommon. Pituitary adenoma are unfrequent, however this pathology represent 10-12% of brain tumors. Pituitary adenomas are derived of adenohypophisis cells, depending of cellular line, clinical and biochemical characteristics are diferents. The aim of our study was to describe these characteristics in our patients. Material and methods: We study 58 patients with diagnosis of pituitary tumor, with regular follow-up in our Hospital, between 1999-2001. The next data were recorded: epidemiological, clinical and biochemical datas. Results: Average age at diagnosis was 36.4 years (DS 16.34 years), with a 70.61% of females. The most frequent tumor was prolactinoma and non-functioning adenomas, amenorrhea was the most frequent symptom with the specialist physician (15%) and the general practice physician was the first step in diagnosis protocol. Cerebral image technique was realized in 54 patients, with a 15.5% of normal exploration and 78.6% with lesions, with 24.14% of microadenoma and macroadenoma. Invasive lesions (craneopharingioms, germinomes and invasive adenomas) representing a 6.9%. Depression, hipertension and diabetes mellitus were the most frequent diseases in these patients. Conclusions: Prolactinoma is the most frequent hypophisis patology. Amenorrhea and/or galactorrhea are the most common symptom. Response to medical and surgical treatment was excelent in prolactinomas

Diagnosis and management of galactorrhea.

After infancy, galactorrhea usually is medication-induced. The most common pathologic cause of galactorrhea is a pituitary tumor. Other causes include hypothalamic and pituitary stalk lesions, neurogenic stimulation, thyroid disorders, and chronic renal failure. Patients with the latter conditions may have irregular menses, infertility, and osteopenia or osteoporosis if they have associated hyperprolactinemia. Tests for pregnancy, serum prolactin level and serum thyroid-stimulating hormone level, and magnetic resonance imaging are important diagnostic tools that should be employed when clinically indicated. The underlying cause of galactorrhea should be treated when possible. The decision to treat patients with galactorrhea is based on the serum prolactin level, the severity of galactorrhea, and the patient's fertility desires. Dopamine agonists are the treatment of choice in most patients with hyperprolactinemic disorders. Bromocriptine is the preferred agent for treatment of hyperprolactin-induced anovulatory infertility. Although cabergoline is more effective and better tolerated than bromocriptine, it is more expensive, and treatment must be discontinued one month before conception is attempted. Surgical resection rarely is required for prolactinomas.

Nipple discharge.

By performing a thoughtful evaluation including a detailed history and careful physical examination, appropriate studies can be selected to allow the practitioner to arrive at the correct diagnosis of nipple discharge in a nonmorbid, expeditious, and inexpensive manner. This article has presented a simple, cost-effective, minimally morbid algorithm for the evaluation of nipple discharge.

Evaluation and treatment of galactorrhea.

Galactorrhea, or inappropriate lactation, is a relatively common problem that occurs in approximately 20 to 25 percent of women. Lactation requires the presence of estrogen, progesterone and, most importantly, prolactin. Stress, suckling, sleep, sexual intercourse and medications may increase prolactin levels, whereas dopamine inhibits its release. The differential diagnosis of galactorrhea includes pituitary adenomas, neurologic disorders, hypothyroidism, numerous medications, breast stimulation, chest wall irritation and physiologic causes. The evaluation includes a thorough history and physical examination, as well as selected laboratory and imaging studies to rule out secondary causes such as an intracranial mass or a tumor. Diagnostic studies include a pregnancy test, a prolactin level, renal and thyroid function tests and, if indicated, magnetic resonance imaging of the brain. Treatment options for prolactinomas include observation, dopamine agonists, surgery and radiation therapy, depending on tumor size and associated symptoms. Fortunately, the prognosis for patients with prolactinomas is good: most prolactinomas remain stable or regress. In pregnant women, prolactinomas must be observed closely because the lesions may greatly increase in size.