Relationship Between Plasma Prolactin Concentration and Pituitary Function in Patients With a Pituitary Adenoma

Abstract

The influence of hyperprolactinaemia on endocrine functions in forty-two consecutive patients with untreated pituitary tumours was studied. Patients with acromegaly, Cushing's disease and Nelson's syndrome were excluded. Sixteen patients (eleven men and five women) had a pituitary adenoma with suprasellar extension and twenty-six (eleven men and fifteen women) had a small intrasellar tumour. Basal plasma prolactin concentration was measured in all. Thyroid function was assessed by plasma thyroxine (T4) and TSH concentrations, adrenocortical function and growth hormone (GH) secretion by the maximum plasma cortisol, adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH) and GH concentrations, respectively, during insulin-induced hypoglycaemia (tITT). Gonadal function was studied by measuring plasma concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), oestradiol-17 beta and in men, testosterone. On the basis of computer assisted tomography of the sella turcica, the tumour volume was calculated. The basal plasma prolactin concentration was elevated in 69% of the patients. Decreased GH secretion was the most frequent pituitary dysfunction (78%) followed in men by gonadal insufficiency (77%), adrenocortical insufficiency (31%) and thyroid insufficiency (21%). There was no difference between patients with elevated and normal plasma prolactin concentration as to the tumour volume and any of the endocrine variables.

Pituitary Function in Patients With Evidence of Spontaneous Disappearance of a Pituitary Adenoma

“…G H secretion was studied in 37 patients only. The analytical methods, procedures, and normal values have been described elsewhere (Lindholm et al, 1977(Lindholm et al, , 1978Hagen et al, 1979).…”

Endocrine Studies in Patients With Pseudotumor Cerebri

“…ES * E indicates epidural pressure monitoring: L, measured at lumbar puncture. In men, plasma testosterone level was measured by RIA 34. RIA).31 Plasma and CSF concentrations of estrone (unconjugated) and estradiol-17/3 were measured by RIA, as described by Emment et al32 The detec¬ tion limit was 10 pg/mL (40 pmol/L).…”

Pseudotumor cerebri. A theory on etiology and pathogenesis

“…Volumes exceeding 1 100 mm3 were interpreted as increased. Endocrinological investigation was performed as described elsewhere (Lindholm et al 1977, 1978, Hagen et al 1979.…”