Two-year treatment with oral contraceptives in hyperprolactinemic patients.

ABSTRACT

PIP: Recent case-control studies have failed to document any growth of pituitary adenomas following oral contraceptive (OC) use. The present study, involving 16 hyperprolactinemic OC users (8 with idiopathic and 8 with pituitary microadenoma) from Milan, Italy, also suggested exogenous estrogen has no harmful effects on these patients. Study participants underwent two blood collections before OC initiation for measurement of basal prolactin levels as well as a pituitary computed tomography or nuclear magnetic resonance scan. During OC use, prolactin measurements were taken between days 5-10 during cycles 6, 12, 18, and 24. At the end of the 24-month treatment period, all women underwent a second radiologic examination. After 2 years of OC use, women showed a nonsignificant decrease in plasma serum prolactin levels (median, 26.8 +or- 29.4 mcg/ml; range, 23.5-144 mcg/ml). No radiologic changes occurred. No patient experienced a prolactinoma enlargement during OC use. Despite a lack of evidence, OC administration is often considered contraindicated in hyperprolactinemic women.