The prevalence and clinical characteristics of macroprolactinemia: A single center survey / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To describe the prevalence and clinical characteristics of macroprolactinemia in hyperprolactinemia patients.Methods:Consecutive 111 outpatients diagnosed with hyperprolactinemia were included in this study. Macroprolactin was routinely screened using the polyethylene glycol(PEG) precipitation method. Recovery of monomeric prolactin less than 40% was defined as macroprolactinemia. Clinical characteristics were analyzed in this study.Results:Among the 111 cases included, 99 were female and 12 were male, with an average age of(32.2±7.9) years. There were 32 cases(28.8%) of macroprolactinemia and 28 of them with normal monomeric prolactin levels(simple macroprolactinemia). prolactin levels before precipitation in simple macroprolactinemia were significantly lower than those with true hyperprolactinemia[(49.81±23.58 vs 83.56±65.82) ng/mL, P<0.05]. No amenorrhea and infertility were observed in patients with simple macroprolactinemia. The clinical manifestations of prolonged menstruation, oligomenorrhea and galactorrhea in female patients accounted for 25.9%, 37.0%, and 7.4%, respectively. Imaging data were obtained in 92 cases. The prevalence of pituitary adenomas in simple macroprolactinemia and true hyperprolactinemia was 42.9% and 66.0%, respectively. Fifteen(46.8%) of the macroprolactinemia cases were receiving or had received bromocriptine treatment, and 66.7% of them failed to achieve normal prolactin levels during therapy. Conclusion:Macroprolactinemia might be common in clinical practice. Macroprolactin should be screened in hyperprolactinemia patients lack of amenorrhea and infertility, and with poor response to dopamine agonist therapy.