Abnormally high level of prolactin in the blood

Symptoms of Hyperprolactinemia

The following features are indicative of Hyperprolactinemia:
  • decrease in menstruation
  • amenorrhoea
  • loss of libido
  • breast pain
  • vaginal dryness
  • sexual dysfunctioning
  • gynecomastia in males
  • erectile dysfunctioning
It is possible that Hyperprolactinemia shows no physical symptoms and still is present in a patient.

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Common Causes of Hyperprolactinemia

The following are the most common causes of Hyperprolactinemia:
  • compression of the pituitary stalk
  • reduced dopamine levels
  • excess production from a prolactinoma

Risk Factors for Hyperprolactinemia

The following factors may increase the likelihood of Hyperprolactinemia:
  • pregnancy
  • lactation
  • chest wall stimulation
  • stress
  • hypothalamic-pituitary stalk damage
  • prolactinoma
  • acromegaly
  • Laron syndrome
  • chronic renal failure
  • hypothyroidism
  • cirrhosis
  • pseudocyesis
  • epileptic seizures

Prevention of Hyperprolactinemia

Yes, it may be possible to prevent Hyperprolactinemia. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:
  • pregnant women should be carefully evaluated for every two months

Occurrence of Hyperprolactinemia

Number of Cases

The following are the number of Hyperprolactinemia cases seen each year worldwide:
  • Very common > 10 Million cases

Common Age Group

Hyperprolactinemia most commonly occurs in the following age group:
  • Aged between 20-35 years

Common Gender

Hyperprolactinemia can occur in any gender.

Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Hyperprolactinemia

The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Hyperprolactinemia:
  • Blood Test: Fasting prolactin levels of above 20 ng/ml in men and above 25 ng/ml in women confirms hyperprolactinemia
  • X-ray: Radiography of the bones surrounding the pituitary reveal the presence of a large macro-adenoma
  • MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging): To detect pituitary tumours and determining their size

Complications of Hyperprolactinemia if untreated

Yes, Hyperprolactinemia causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Hyperprolactinemia is left untreated:
  • galactorrhoea
  • impairment in reproductive functioning
  • osteoporosis
  • erectile dysfunctioning
  • infertility
  • gynaecomastia

Procedures for Treatment of Hyperprolactinemia

The following procedures are used to treat Hyperprolactinemia:
  • Surgery: To remove tumours associated with prolactin excess

Time for Treatment of Hyperprolactinemia

While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Hyperprolactinemia to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision:
  • Disease cannot be treated but only maintained or effects reduced

Related Topics

Last updated date

This page was last updated on 2/04/2019.
This page provides information for Hyperprolactinemia.

Related Topics

Acromegaly

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