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Long-term Efficacy of Bromocriptine in Macroprolactinomas and Giant prolactinomas in Men

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Abstract

We prospectively analyzed presentations and long-term therapeutic responses to bromocriptine (BRC) in 29 newly diagnosed men with macroprolactinomas including 14 patients with 'giant prolactinoma'. Clinical symptoms, prolactin (PRL) levels and tumor size on MRI were measured before BRC and sequentially thereafter. The duration of follow-up were 6 to 96 (30.7 ± 14.4) months. Pretreatment PRL ranged between 124 and 29200 ng/mL (1698 ± 857.1) and tumor volume was between 2.81 and 132 cm3 (21.1 ± 24.3). Baseline PRL levels did not correlated with tumor volume (r = 0.45, P > 0.05). Significant decrease (P = 0.0003) in PRL, at least 96% of the pretreatment value from 1698 ± 857.1 ng/mL to 42.4 ± 30.6 ng/mL occurred in 26 patients. Persistent normalization of PRL levels (<16 ng/mL) for at least 6 months was achieved in 12 patients (40.8%). Twenty-two patients (74.8%) achieved significant tumor shrinkage (P = 0.005) at study completion. An improvement in visual field defects (VFD) and restoration of libido and potency was observed in 40% and 33.3%, respectively. Trans-sphenoidal / trans-frontal pituitary surgery was performed in 9 patients (31%) for various reasons: pituitary apoplexy in 1, CSF rhinorrhea in 2, increasing prolactin in spite of BRC therapy in 3, and intolerant /resistant to BRC in 3 patients. These data suggest that, in male macro- and giant prolactinomas, dopamine agonists represent the first-line therapy effective in reducing PRL, restoration of libido and potency, improvement of VFD and determining tumor shrinkage.

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Abbreviations

BMI:

body mass index;

BRC:

bromocriptine;

BTHA:

bitemporal hemianopia;

CSF:

cerebrospinal fluid;

DA:

dopamine agonist;

MRI:

magnetic resonance imaging;

PRL:

prolactin;

THA:

temporal hemianopia;

VFD:

visual field defects

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India

    Arijit Chattopadhyay, Anil Bhansali & Shariq R Masoodi

  2. Department of Endocrinology, Sheikhan Al-Farsi Centre Al Sabah Hospital, PO Box 4078, Safat, Kuwait

    Arijit Chattopadhyay

Authors
  1. Arijit Chattopadhyay
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  2. Anil Bhansali
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  3. Shariq R Masoodi
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Correspondence to Arijit Chattopadhyay.

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Chattopadhyay, A., Bhansali, A. & Masoodi, S.R. Long-term Efficacy of Bromocriptine in Macroprolactinomas and Giant prolactinomas in Men. Pituitary 8, 147–154 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11102-005-5111-4

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