Clinical use of metoclopramide test in the diagnosis of women with hyperprolactinemia

Abstract

14 women with elevated prolactin (PRL) serum levels (greater than 25 ng/ml) were given 2.5 mg of metoclopramide, by bolus intravenous injection, to evaluate its diagnosic potential as a stimulus for PRL release. Following metoclopramide injection there was a prompt increase in serum PRL in normal subjects and in patients with moderate PRL elevations associated with galactorrhea-oligomenorrhea. The women with amenorrhea-galactorrhea regardless of the presence of absence of a pituitary tumor, showed a blunted response. Metoclopramide failed to induce TSH secretion in all cases.

In conclusion: the use of the metoclopramide test provides no additional clinical information to that furnished by the basal serum PRL concentration for the hyperprolactinemic patient.