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Unlike women, who most commonly have microprolactinomas, men usually present with macroprolactinomas, and their serum prolactin levels are generally much higher than those observed in women. [ 13 ] Long-term hyperprolactinaemia can lead to detrimental changes in bone metabolism as a result of hypoestrogenism and hypoandrogenism .
There are few treatments which increase prolactin levels in humans. Treatment differs based on the reason for diagnosis. Women who are diagnosed with hypoprolactinemia following lactation failure are typically advised to formula feed, although treatment with metoclopramide has been shown to increase milk supply in clinical studies.
Prolactin inhibitors are mainly used to treat hyperprolactinemia (high prolactin levels). [1] Agonists of the dopamine D 2 receptor such as bromocriptine and cabergoline are able to strongly suppress pituitary prolactin secretion and thereby decrease circulating prolactin levels, and so are most commonly used as prolactin inhibitors. [1]
General guidelines for diagnosing prolactin excess (hyperprolactinemia) define the upper threshold of normal prolactin at 25 μg/L for women and 20 μg/L for men. [59] Similarly, guidelines for diagnosing prolactin deficiency (hypoprolactinemia) are defined as prolactin levels below 3 μg/L in women [72] [73] and 5 μg/L in men.
Across multiple species and in some cases across sexes, there is evidence for the phylogenetic conservation of parental hormones. These include the relationships between the hormones estrogen, progesterone, prolactin, and oxytocin. In males across species, including humans, increased prolactin levels are associated with fatherhood.
Mechanical detection of suckling increases prolactin levels in the body to increase milk synthesis. Excess prolactin may inhibit the menstrual cycle directly, by a suppressive effect on the ovary, or indirectly, by decreasing the release of GnRH. [2] Suckling is a pivotal factor in maintaining lactational amenorrhea postpartum.
A prolactinoma is a tumor of the pituitary gland that produces the hormone prolactin.It is the most common type of functioning pituitary tumor. [1] Symptoms of prolactinoma are due to abnormally high levels of prolactin in the blood (hyperprolactinemia), or due to pressure of the tumor on surrounding brain tissue and/or the optic nerves.
The most common complex found in blood consists of prolactin and immunoglobulin G (IgG). [1] While the free prolactin hormone is active, prolactin in the macroprolactin complex does not have any biological activity in the body and is considered benign. [2] However, macroprolactin is detected by all Laboratory tests that measure prolactin in ...