Pituitary apoplexy manifested during a bromocriptine test in a patient with a growth hormone- and prolactin-producing pituitary adenoma.

Abstract

This report describes the clinical course of pituitary apoplexy induced by a single dose of bromocriptine in a 50-year-old woman with acromegaly. The patient suddenly complained of diminished vision and headache 2 hours after the oral administration of 2.5 mg of bromocriptine. Her visual symptoms and headache persisted for several days. The basal plasma GH concentration decreased from 76.2 ng/ml to 37.2 ng/ml the day after the attack of apoplexy and to 3.0 ng/ml on the 9th day. The authors assess the changes in endocrine findings related to pituitary apoplexy and also emphasize the necessity to view with caution any symptomatic change during bromocriptine therapy.

• Authors: K Shirataki, K Chihara, Y Shibata, N Tamaki, S Matsumoto, T Fujita
• Journal: Neurosurgery (Neurosurgery) Vol. 23 Issue 3 Pg. 395-8 (Sep 1988) ISSN: 0148-396X [Print] United States
• PMID: 3226523 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Bromocriptine

Topics

• Adenoma (complications, surgery)
• Bromocriptine (adverse effects)
• Female
• Humans
• Middle Aged
• Pituitary Apoplexy (chemically induced, complications, physiopathology)
• Pituitary Neoplasms (complications, surgery)
• Vision Disorders (chemically induced, complications, physiopathology)