Bromocriptine treatment of hyperprolactinaemic hypogonadism

Abstract

Results of bromocriptine therapy of 70 women and 25 men with hyperprolactinaemia are reported together with those of 8 normoprolactinaemic and 3 post menopausal women. Galactorrhoea was present in 79% and 28% of the hyperprolactinaemic women and men respectively. 34 of the hyperprolactinaemic women had suspected pituitary tumours. Bromocriptine therapy resulted in lowering of prolactin levels to normal in 85 of the 95 patients, and in the remainder prolactin levels were lowered in all but one patient. Gonadal function was restored in all but seven of the hyperprolactinaemic women, and potency in all but 4 of the men. Normal cyclical function was restored or pregnancy was achieved in 5 of 6 normoprolactinaemic women with irregular cycles or amenorrhoea. Basal circulating LH and FSH levels and their responses to GnRH were normal or exaggerated in the majority of the women, but the LH responses to GnRH were impaired in 12 of 21 men. The results of 37 pregnancies in 31 women, 11 of whom had suspected pituitary tumours, are discussed together with the problems of possible tumour growth during pregnancy.