Clinical evaluation of the prolactin secreting capacity for the diagnosis of occult hyperprolactinemia
Matsuoka, R.; Mori, H.; Tomonari, R.; Chen, S.Z.; Kigawa, T.; Aisaka, K.
Nihon Sanka Fujinka Gakkai Zasshi 39(4): 586-590
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0300-9165 PMID: 3108420 Document Number: 304886
To clarify the diagnostic criteria of occulted or transient hyperprolactinemia, the resting prolactin level and the prolactin secreting capacity of normal women, which were tested with a 500 micrograms of TRH injection, were compared with those of patients with occulted hyperprolactinemia. Results revealed that: resting levels of prolactin in normal women were 13.4 +/- 4.4 ng/ml (mean +/- S.D.) in the follicular phase and 13.4 +/- 5.6 ng/ml in the luteal phase, which overlapped those of occulted hyperprolactinemia. the prolactin secreting capacity of occulted hyperprolactinemia was significantly greater than that of the normal women. These results indicated that it was impossible to distinguish the occulted hyperprolactinemia from the normal by the measuring the resting prolactin level, but possible by the evaluating the prolactin secreting capacity. If the serum prolactin was more than 150 ng/ml at 15 min. after TRH administration, occulted hyperprolactinemia was strongly suggested.