| Abstract | Eight of 109 consecutive hyperandrogenic patients had increased serum PRL levels; macroprolactinemia was diagnosed in 4 patients by measuring PRL levels after precipitation of serum with polyethylene glycol, and after detecting macroprolactinemia, these 4 patients were diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Therefore, macroprolactinemia must be ruled out in women presenting with hyperandrogenic symptoms and increased serum PRL concentrations to avoid misdiagnosis (hyperprolactinemia is an exclusion criterion for the diagnosis of PCOS), unnecessary diagnostic tests, and inappropriate use of dopaminergic agonists. |
| Authors | Héctor F Escobar-Morreale
(Affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain. hescobarm.hrc at salud.madrid.org)
|
| Journal | Fertility and sterility
(Fertil Steril)
Vol. 82
Issue 6
Pg. 1697-9
(Dec 2004)
ISSN: 0015-0282 United States |
| PMID | 15589886
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
|
| Chemical References |
- prolactin, polymeric
- Prolactin
|
| Topics |
- Adult
- Diagnosis, Differential
- Female
- Hirsutism
(etiology)
- Humans
- Hyperandrogenism
(blood, complications, diagnosis)
- Hyperprolactinemia
(blood, complications)
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
(complications, diagnosis, therapy)
- Prolactin
(blood)
- Retrospective Studies
|
