Macroprolactinemia in Childhood and Adolescence: A Cause of Asymptomatic Hyperprolactinemia

Fideleff, Hugo; Ruibal, G; Boquete, Hugo; Pujol, Andreu; Sequera, A; Sobrado, P

doi:10.1159/000023507

Cited by 69 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Although subjects in this study may be too old to determine when macroprolactinaemia began, the current data suggest that macroprolactinaemia is likely to begin before middle age. This assumption is supported by a few reports that demonstrated the presence of macroprolactinaemia in childhood and adolescence (19,20,21).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 54%

The natural history of macroprolactinaemia

Hattori

Adachi

Ishihara

et al. 2012

European Journal of Endocrinology

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Objective: Macroprolactinaemia is a condition in which serum prolactin (PRL) consists mainly of large molecular weight PRL (macroPRL). The aim of this study was to examine the natural history of macroprolactinaemia. Design and participants: Six hundred and fifty-four hospital workers participated in this study, including 27 subjects with macroprolactinaemia and 627 controls. MacroPRL and serum PRL concentrations were evaluated over a 4-year period. The ratio of macroPRL was examined by the polyethylene glycol (PEG) method and gel filtration chromatography. IgG-bound PRL and anti-PRL autoantibodies were examined by protein G and 125 I-PRL binding studies respectively. Results: Over the 4 years of the study, all 27 macroprolactinaemic subjects had persistent macroprolactinaemia without the development of raised free PRL, while none of the 627 controls developed macroprolactinaemia. The ratios of PEG-precipitable PRL and IgG-bound PRL did not significantly change, but 125 I-PRL binding ratios significantly increased. As a whole, total and free serum PRL concentrations did not significantly change in subjects with macroprolactinaemia over the 4-year period. However, hyperprolactinaemia developed in five of the 18 macroprolactinaemic subjects who were initially normoprolactinaemic along with an increase in anti-PRL autoantibody titres. One of the remaining nine macroprolactinaemic subjects who were initially hyperprolactinaemic showed a decrease in serum PRL concentrations, which occurred concomitantly with a decrease in the anti-PRL autoantibody titre. Conclusions: Macroprolactinaemia may develop before middle age and is likely a chronic condition leading to hyperprolactinaemia.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 54%

The natural history of macroprolactinaemia

Hattori

Adachi

Ishihara

et al. 2012

European Journal of Endocrinology

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“…Hyperprolactinemia in children has been described in association with other conditions such as hypothyroidism [4] and celiac disease [5], or with the presence of macroprolactin [6]. These conditions were excluded in our patient.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Persistent Hyperprolactinemia and Bilateral Galactocele in a Male Infant

Tomasi

Fanciulli

Casti

et al. 2009

International Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology

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Galactocele is a benign breast lesion, usually occurring in nursing women. This lesion is a rare cause of breast enlargement in children. In this paper we describe the case of an infant with hyperprolactinemia (which persisted throughout 15 years of clinical observation) and bilateral galactocele. We speculate that a congenital midline defect in our patient might have impaired the normal dopaminergic inhibitory tone on pituitary lactotroph cells, thus leading to an increased prolactin secretion by the pituitary gland; this, in turn, might have favored the development of the galactocele.

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“…Fideleff et al reported 5 asymptomatic cases with macroprolactinemia that was a casual finding. Above all, 2 of their cases were detected during a study they performed on 304 healthy children and adolescents to establish reference values for prolactin [10]. More recently, Tütüncüler et al presented 6 children with macroprolactinemia, of whom 5 had manifestations consistent with endocrinopathy (headaches, menstrual disturbance, short stature, increased hair and early puberty).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Infant Case of Macroprolactinemia with Transient Idiopathic Central Precocious Puberty

et al. 2007

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Abstract. Macroprolactinemia was recognized more than a decade ago as a cause of hyperprolactinemia and the prevalence of macroprolactinemia is thought to be 10%-26% of patients with hyperprolactinemia. However, there are few published reports about macroprolactinemia in childhood. We report a 7-year-and-1-month-old girl with hyperprolactinemia due to macroprolactinemia with the complication of transient idiopathic central precocious puberty (ICPP). At the age of 6 years and 9 months, she was diagnosed with ICPP at another clinic, on the basis of isolated mammary development and increased height velocity with slightly advanced bone age. At that time, the unexpected finding of high PRL level was also observed. Four months later, she was referred to our clinic for persistently high PRL level. At this time, other endocrinological data showed prepubertal stage and we demonstrated macroprolactinemia and the presence of anti-PRL autoantibody. After other causes of hyperprolactinemia such as prolactinoma and stress were ruled out, we finally diagnosed her with hyperprolactinemia due to macroprolactinemia. Because most patients with macroprolactinemia are symptom-free despite hyperprolactinemia and drug therapy would not be indicated, macroprolactinemia should be suspected even in children to avoid unnecessary examinations and treatments.

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Macroprolactinemia in Childhood and Adolescence: A Cause of Asymptomatic Hyperprolactinemia

Cited by 69 publications

References 16 publications

The natural history of macroprolactinaemia

The natural history of macroprolactinaemia

Persistent Hyperprolactinemia and Bilateral Galactocele in a Male Infant

An Infant Case of Macroprolactinemia with Transient Idiopathic Central Precocious Puberty

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