Effects of prolonged treatment with diltiazem on pituitary secretion of luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, thyrotropin and prolactin.

In previous studies it has been observed that acute administration or short-term treatment with calcium channel blockers can influence the secretion of some pituitary hormones. In this study, we have examined the effect of the long-term administration of diltiazem on luteinizing-hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), thyrotropin (TSH) and prolactin (PRL) levels under basal conditions and after gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)/thyrotropin-releasing-hormone (TRH) stimulation in 12 subjects affected by cardiovascular diseases who were treated with diltiazem (60 mg 3 times/day per os) for more than 6 months and in 12 healthy volunteers of the same age. The basal levels of the studied hormones were similar in the two groups. In both the treated patients and the control subjects, a statistically significant increase (p < 0.01) in LH, FSH, TSH and PRL levels was observed after GnRH/TRH administration. Comparing the respective areas under the LH, FSH, TSH and PRL response curves between the two groups did not present any statistically significant difference. These findings indicate that long-term therapy with diltiazem does not alter pituitary hormone secretion.