Pallavi Iyer1, Mark E Molitch. 1. Department of Pediatrics, Diabetes, and Metabolism, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA. iyerp@allkids.org
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe a positive prolactin response to bromocriptine treatment in 2 patients with cabergoline-resistant prolactinomas. METHODS: We report the patients' clinical presentations, laboratory test results, imaging findings, and clinical courses. RESULTS: Patient 1 had a 5-mm pituitary microadenoma that was initially diagnosed at age 30 years. After initial diagnosis, she was treated with transvaginal bromocriptine for 9 years and then subsequently went untreated for 2 years. After developing symptoms of amenorrhea, decreased libido, and hyperprolactinemia, oral cabergoline, 0.5 mg twice weekly, was initiated. Her prolactin concentration remained elevated at 80 ng/mL while taking cabergoline. Her prolactin concentration decreased to 13 ng/mL after her regimen was switched to bromocriptine, 5 mg daily. Patient 2 had a 17-mm pituitary macroadenoma that was initially diagnosed at age 15 years. Oral cabergoline was started at 0.5 mg twice weekly and increased to 1 mg 3 times weekly when prolactin levels continued to rise to 340 ng/mL over 18 months. After visual field defects developed, transsphenoidal surgery was performed. One year after surgery, magnetic resonance imaging showed a 6- to 7-mm pituitary adenoma, and there was a gradual rise in serum prolactin. Her serum prolactin concentration continued to rise to 212 ng/mL with increasing tumor size over 3 years. Cabergoline was discontinued and oral bromocriptine was initiated at a dosage of 10 mg daily. After 4.5 months of bromocriptine therapy, her serum prolactin concentration decreased to 133 ng/mL. However, after 2 months, the macroadenoma continued to increase in size and a visual field defect developed, so another transsphenoidal operation was performed. CONCLUSIONS: Although cabergoline is generally preferred to bromocriptine for the treatment of patients with prolactinomas because of its better tolerance profile and greater effectiveness, in patients with cabergoline-resistant prolactinomas, a bromocriptine trial should be considered a safe, relatively inexpensive, and well-tolerated alternative.
OBJECTIVE: To describe a positive prolactin response to bromocriptine treatment in 2 patients with cabergoline-resistant prolactinomas. METHODS: We report the patients' clinical presentations, laboratory test results, imaging findings, and clinical courses. RESULTS:Patient 1 had a 5-mm pituitary microadenoma that was initially diagnosed at age 30 years. After initial diagnosis, she was treated with transvaginal bromocriptine for 9 years and then subsequently went untreated for 2 years. After developing symptoms of amenorrhea, decreased libido, and hyperprolactinemia, oral cabergoline, 0.5 mg twice weekly, was initiated. Her prolactin concentration remained elevated at 80 ng/mL while taking cabergoline. Her prolactin concentration decreased to 13 ng/mL after her regimen was switched to bromocriptine, 5 mg daily. Patient 2 had a 17-mm pituitary macroadenoma that was initially diagnosed at age 15 years. Oral cabergoline was started at 0.5 mg twice weekly and increased to 1 mg 3 times weekly when prolactin levels continued to rise to 340 ng/mL over 18 months. After visual field defects developed, transsphenoidal surgery was performed. One year after surgery, magnetic resonance imaging showed a 6- to 7-mm pituitary adenoma, and there was a gradual rise in serum prolactin. Her serum prolactin concentration continued to rise to 212 ng/mL with increasing tumor size over 3 years. Cabergoline was discontinued and oral bromocriptine was initiated at a dosage of 10 mg daily. After 4.5 months of bromocriptine therapy, her serum prolactin concentration decreased to 133 ng/mL. However, after 2 months, the macroadenoma continued to increase in size and a visual field defect developed, so another transsphenoidal operation was performed. CONCLUSIONS: Although cabergoline is generally preferred to bromocriptine for the treatment of patients with prolactinomas because of its better tolerance profile and greater effectiveness, in patients with cabergoline-resistant prolactinomas, a bromocriptine trial should be considered a safe, relatively inexpensive, and well-tolerated alternative.
Authors: Quang T Nguyen; Lindsay Sanders; Anu P Michael; Scott R Anderson; Loida D Nguyen; Zackary A Johnson Journal: Am Health Drug Benefits Date: 2012-07
Authors: Renato Cozzi; Maria Rosaria Ambrosio; Roberto Attanasio; Claudia Battista; Alessandro Bozzao; Marco Caputo; Enrica Ciccarelli; Laura De Marinis; Ernesto De Menis; Marco Faustini Fustini; Franco Grimaldi; Andrea Lania; Giovanni Lasio; Francesco Logoluso; Marco Losa; Pietro Maffei; Davide Milani; Maurizio Poggi; Michele Zini; Laurence Katznelson; Anton Luger; Catalina Poiana Journal: Eur J Endocrinol Date: 2022-02-03 Impact factor: 6.664