Utility of Cannulated Prolactin to Exclude Stress Hyperprolactinemia in Patients with Persistent Mild Hyperprolactinemia

Background: Stress-induced hyperprolactinemia can be difficult to differentiate from true hyperprolactinema and may result in patients having unnecessary investigations and imaging. We report the results of cannulated prolactin tests with serial prolactin measurements from an indwelling catheter to...

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Main Authors: Raya Almazrouei, Shamaila Zaman, Florian Wernig, Karim Meeran
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2021-06-01
Series:Clinical Medicine Insights: Endocrinology and Diabetes
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/11795514211025276
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author Raya Almazrouei
Shamaila Zaman
Florian Wernig
Karim Meeran
author_facet Raya Almazrouei
Shamaila Zaman
Florian Wernig
Karim Meeran
author_sort Raya Almazrouei
collection DOAJ
description Background: Stress-induced hyperprolactinemia can be difficult to differentiate from true hyperprolactinema and may result in patients having unnecessary investigations and imaging. We report the results of cannulated prolactin tests with serial prolactin measurements from an indwelling catheter to differentiate true from stress-induced hyperprolactinemia in patients with persistently mildly elevated prolactin levels in both referral and repeat samples. Methods: Data were collected for 42 patients who had a cannulated prolactin test between January 2017 and May 2018. After cannula insertion, prolactin was measured at 0, 60, and 120 minutes. Normalization is defined as a decline in prolactin to gender-defined normal ranges. Results: The mean age was 33.8 years ( SD  ± 9.9), and 37 (88%) were female. Menstrual irregularities were the main presenting symptom in 28.57% of the patients. Prolactin normalized in 12 (28.6%) patients of whom cannulated prolactin test was done. Repeat random prolactin levels were significantly higher in patients whose prolactin did not normalize during the cannulated prolactin test. MRI of the pituitary gland showed an abnormality in 23 out of 28 (82%) patients who did not normalize prolactin, a microadenoma in the majority of patients (18 patients). Conclusion: The cannulated prolactin test was useful in excluding true hyperprolactinemia in 28.6% of patients with previously confirmed mildly elevated random prolactin on two occasions, thus avoiding over-diagnosis and unnecessary imaging.
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spelling doaj.art-17d3c4d21d754add8a6f7770da1b2bce2022-12-21T22:10:35ZengSAGE PublishingClinical Medicine Insights: Endocrinology and Diabetes1179-55142021-06-011410.1177/11795514211025276Utility of Cannulated Prolactin to Exclude Stress Hyperprolactinemia in Patients with Persistent Mild HyperprolactinemiaRaya Almazrouei0Shamaila Zaman1Florian Wernig2Karim Meeran3Division of Endocrinology, Tawam Hospital, Al Ain, United Arab EmiratesDepartment of Diabetes & Endocrinology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UKDepartment of Diabetes & Endocrinology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UKDivision of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Imperial College London, London, UKBackground: Stress-induced hyperprolactinemia can be difficult to differentiate from true hyperprolactinema and may result in patients having unnecessary investigations and imaging. We report the results of cannulated prolactin tests with serial prolactin measurements from an indwelling catheter to differentiate true from stress-induced hyperprolactinemia in patients with persistently mildly elevated prolactin levels in both referral and repeat samples. Methods: Data were collected for 42 patients who had a cannulated prolactin test between January 2017 and May 2018. After cannula insertion, prolactin was measured at 0, 60, and 120 minutes. Normalization is defined as a decline in prolactin to gender-defined normal ranges. Results: The mean age was 33.8 years ( SD  ± 9.9), and 37 (88%) were female. Menstrual irregularities were the main presenting symptom in 28.57% of the patients. Prolactin normalized in 12 (28.6%) patients of whom cannulated prolactin test was done. Repeat random prolactin levels were significantly higher in patients whose prolactin did not normalize during the cannulated prolactin test. MRI of the pituitary gland showed an abnormality in 23 out of 28 (82%) patients who did not normalize prolactin, a microadenoma in the majority of patients (18 patients). Conclusion: The cannulated prolactin test was useful in excluding true hyperprolactinemia in 28.6% of patients with previously confirmed mildly elevated random prolactin on two occasions, thus avoiding over-diagnosis and unnecessary imaging.https://doi.org/10.1177/11795514211025276
spellingShingle Raya Almazrouei
Shamaila Zaman
Florian Wernig
Karim Meeran
Utility of Cannulated Prolactin to Exclude Stress Hyperprolactinemia in Patients with Persistent Mild Hyperprolactinemia
Clinical Medicine Insights: Endocrinology and Diabetes
title Utility of Cannulated Prolactin to Exclude Stress Hyperprolactinemia in Patients with Persistent Mild Hyperprolactinemia
title_full Utility of Cannulated Prolactin to Exclude Stress Hyperprolactinemia in Patients with Persistent Mild Hyperprolactinemia
title_fullStr Utility of Cannulated Prolactin to Exclude Stress Hyperprolactinemia in Patients with Persistent Mild Hyperprolactinemia
title_full_unstemmed Utility of Cannulated Prolactin to Exclude Stress Hyperprolactinemia in Patients with Persistent Mild Hyperprolactinemia
title_short Utility of Cannulated Prolactin to Exclude Stress Hyperprolactinemia in Patients with Persistent Mild Hyperprolactinemia
title_sort utility of cannulated prolactin to exclude stress hyperprolactinemia in patients with persistent mild hyperprolactinemia
url https://doi.org/10.1177/11795514211025276
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