Masked hyperprolactinemia: tumor-derived factors inhibiting prolactin secretion caused by pituitary-stalk damage.

Abstract

Tumor-induced secondary hyperprolactinemia in patients with non-prolactin (PRL)-secreting pituitary tumors has traditionally been ascribed to pituitary stalk damage. We conducted a retrospective analysis of secondary hyperprolactinemia in 106 patients who underwent surgery for non-PRL-secreting pituitary adenoma. The incidence of hyperprolactinemia was evaluated, and pituitary-stalk damage was assessed radiographically using MRI (size of tumor and extension type) and endocrinologically by monitoring hormonal function using a provocation test. The effect of a tumor-derived intrasellar factor, leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), on hyperprolactinemia was also investigated. Hyperprolactinemia was observed in 31 of the 106 (29.2%) patients. It was not correlated with either physical stalk compression or endocrinological dysfunction. However, LIF expression was negatively correlated with the incidence of secondary hyperprolactinemia (p<0.01). Although secondary hyperprolactinemia might be caused by pituitary stalk damage, it is possible that LIF masks the effect.

• Authors: Yasuyuki Kinoshita, Seiji Hama, Atsushi Tominaga, Kazunori Arita, Kazuhiko Sugiyama, Tetsuhiko Sakoguchi, Satoshi Usui, Kaoru Kurisu
• Journal: Journal of clinical neuroscience : official journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia (J Clin Neurosci) Vol. 18 Issue 12 Pg. 1651-5 (Dec 2011) ISSN: 1532-2653 [Electronic] Scotland
• PMID: 22015098 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Prolactin

Topics

• Adenoma (pathology, surgery)
• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Female
• Humans
• Hyperprolactinemia (blood, diagnosis)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Pituitary Gland (injuries, pathology, surgery)
• Pituitary Neoplasms (pathology, surgery)
• Prolactin (blood, metabolism)