Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The effect of oral contraception on macroprolactin levels in women with macroprolactinemia: A pilot study

  • Original research article
  • Published:
Pharmacological Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Despite a high prevalence of macroprolactinemia in the population, the only drugs found to change macroprolactin (big-big prolactin) levels were dopamine receptor agonists.

Methods

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of oral contraceptive pills containing ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel on serum macroprolactin levels in patients with macroprolactinemia. The study population included 21 premenopausal women with isolated macroprolactinemia, 11 of whom were treated with oral contraceptive pills. Serum prolactin and macroprolactin levels were assessed at baseline and after 16 weeks of treatment.

Results

Oral contraceptive pills administered for 16 weeks slightly increased pre-polyethylene glycol serum prolactin levels and macroprolactin levels and the effect of this treatment correlated with their baseline values.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that oral contraceptive pills containing ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel exhibit a stimulatory effect on macroprolactin production in women with basically high macroprolactin levels.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

FSH:

follicle-stimulating hormone

Ig:

immunoglobulin

LH:

luteinizing hormone

TSH:

thyroid stimulating hormone

SD:

standard deviation

References

  1. McCudden CR, Sharpless JL, Grenache DG. Comparison of multiple methods for identification of hyperprolactinemia in the presence of macroprolactin. Clin Chim Acta 2010;411:155–60.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Richa V, Rahul G, Sarika A. Macroprolactin; a frequent cause of misdiagnosed hyperprolactinemia in clinical practice. J Reprod Infertil 2010;11: 161–7.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Smith CR, Norman MR. Prolactin and growth hormone: molecular heterogeneity and measurement in serum. Ann Clin Biochem 1990;27:542–50.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Suh HK, Frantz AG. Size heterogeneity of human prolactin in plasma and pituitary extracts. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1974;39:928–35.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Schiettecatte J, Van Opdenbosch A, Anckaert E, De Schepper J, Poppe K, Velkeniers B, et al. Immunoprecipitation for rapid detection of macroprolactin in the form of prolactin-immunoglobulin complexes. Clin Chem 2005;51: 1746–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Fahie-Wilson MN, John R, Ellis AR. Macroprolactin; high molecular mass forms of circulating prolactin. Ann Clin Biochem 2005;42(Pt 3):175–92.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Fahie-Wilson M, Smith TP. Determination of prolactin: the macroprolactin problem. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab 2013;27:725–42.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Yuen YP, Lai JP, Au KM, Chan AY, Mak TW. Macroprolactin - a cause of pseudohyperprolactinaemia. Hong Kong Med J 2003;9:119–21.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Jeske W. The main reasons behind variability in detection of prolactin and causes of true or apparent discordance with clinical state. Endokrynol Pol 2008;59:30–2.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Kasum M, Oreskovic S, Zec I, Jezek D, Tomic V, Gall V, et al. Macroprolactinemia: new insights in hyperprolactinemia. Biochem Med (Zagreb) 2012;22: 171–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Vallette-Kasic S, Morange-Ramos I, Selim A, Gunz G, Morange S, Enjalbert A, et al. Macroprolactinemia revisited: a study on 106 patients. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2002;87:581–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Olukoga AO. Macroprolactinemia is clinically important. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2002;87:4833–4.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Mounier C, Trouillas J, Claustrat B, Duthel R, Estour B. Macroprolactinaemia associated with prolactin adenoma. Hum Reprod 2003;18:853–7.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Tamer G, Telci A, Mert M, Uzum AK, Aral F, Tanakol R, et al. Prevalence of pituitary adenomas in macroprolactinemic patients may be higher than it is presumed. Endocrine 2012;41:138–43.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Christin-Maître S, Delemer B, Touraine P, Young J. Prolactinoma and estrogens: pregnancy, contraception and hormonal replacement therapy. Ann Endocrinol (Paris) 2007;68:106–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Colao A, Savastano S. Medical treatment of prolactinomas. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2011;7:267–78.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Ohnami S, Eto S, Ohnami S, Soejima T, Nakata H. Characterization of big big prolactin in serum and tumor extract in patients with PRL-secreting tumor. Endocrinol Jpn 1987;34:325–44.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Hattori N, Ishihara T, Saiki Y, Shimatsu A. Macroprolactinaemia in patients with hyperprolactinaemia: composition of macroprolactin and stability during long-term follow-up. Clin Endocrinol (Oxford) 2010;73:792–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Hattori N, Adachi T, Ishihara T, Shimatsu A. The natural history of macroprolactinaemia. Eur J Endocrinol 2012;166:625–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Tohei A. Studies on the functional relationship between thyroid, adrenal and gonadal hormones. J Reprod Dev 2004;50:9–20.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Prabhakar VK, Davis JR. Hyperprolactinaemia. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol 2008;22:341–53.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Gibney J, Smith TP, McKenna TJ. Clinical relevance of macroprolactin. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2005;62:633–43.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Shimatsu A, Hattori N. Macroprolactinemia: diagnostic, clinical, and pathogenic significance. Clin Dev Immunol 2012;2012:167132.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Gulcelik NE, Usman A. Macroprolactinaemia in diabetic patients. Neuro Endocrinol Lett 2010;31:270–4.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland

    Robert Krysiak, Beata Kowalska, Witold Szkróbka & Bogusław Okopień

  2. Department of Endocrinology, Provincial Hospital, Opole, Poland

    Beata Kowalska

Authors
  1. Robert Krysiak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Beata Kowalska
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Witold Szkróbka
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Bogusław Okopień
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Robert Krysiak.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Krysiak, R., Kowalska, B., Szkróbka, W. et al. The effect of oral contraception on macroprolactin levels in women with macroprolactinemia: A pilot study. Pharmacol. Rep 67, 854–857 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pharep.2015.02.001

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pharep.2015.02.001

Keywords

Search

Navigation