Hyperprolactinemias

Abstract

Prolactin is a protein hormone secreated from the anterior pituitary that is under the supressive effect of a hypothalamic prolactin inhibitor factor, dopamin. Hyperprolactinemia in which prolactin level is detected above 20 ng/ml in adults may be due to physiologic, pharmacologic or pathologic causes. The most frequent pathologic cause of symptomatic hyperprolactinemia is prolactinoma. The differential diagnosis of the etiologic factors is important in both the treatment and follow-up of hyperprolactinemic cases admitted with the clinical symptoms and signs of hypogonadism.