Sandhya Santharam1,2,3, Athanasios Fountas1,2,3, Metaxia Tampourlou1,2,3, Wiebke Arlt1,2,3, John Ayuk2,3, Neil Gittoes1,2,3, Andrew Toogood2,3, Niki Karavitaki1,2,3. 1. Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research (IMSR), College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK. 2. Centre for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Birmingham Health Partners, Birmingham, UK. 3. Department of Endocrinology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Discontinuation of dopamine agonist (DA) treatment in women with prolactinoma after menopause is a potential approach; studies systematically assessing long-term outcomes are lacking. Our aim was to investigate the natural history of prolactinoma in this group. DESIGN/PATIENTS: Retrospective cohort study of women with prolactinoma diagnosed before menopause and who after menopause were not on DA. RESULTS: Thirty women were included. Twenty-eight received DA (median duration 18 years, median age at DA withdrawal 52 years). At last assessment (median follow-up 3 years) and compared with values 6-12 months after stopping DA, Prolactin (PRL) increased in 15%, decreased but not normalized in 33% and was normal in 52%; PRL levels or visible adenoma on imaging before DA withdrawal, treatment duration and presence of macro-/microadenoma at diagnosis were not predictors of normoprolactinaemia at last review, whereas PRL values 6-12 months after stopping DA were. Adenoma regrowth was detected in 2/27 patients (7%), who showed gradual increase in PRL. Comparison with 28 women who had DA withdrawal before their menopause revealed lower risk of hyperprolactinaemia recurrence in the postmenopausal group (HR:0.316, 95% CI: 0.101-0.985, P < .05). Two women with microprolactinoma diagnosed in perimenopausal period had not been offered DA; PRL decreased (but not normalized) during observation of 1 and 8 years. CONCLUSIONS: Prolactin normalized over time in nearly half of the women and serum PRL 6-12 months after DA withdrawal is useful predictor. Nonetheless, 7% of the patients demonstrated adenoma regrowth which, given the life expectancy postmenopause, necessitate regular monitoring of the cases with persistent hyperprolactinaemia.
OBJECTIVE: Discontinuation of dopamine agonist (DA) treatment in women with prolactinoma after menopause is a potential approach; studies systematically assessing long-term outcomes are lacking. Our aim was to investigate the natural history of prolactinoma in this group. DESIGN/PATIENTS: Retrospective cohort study of women with prolactinoma diagnosed before menopause and who after menopause were not on DA. RESULTS: Thirty women were included. Twenty-eight received DA (median duration 18 years, median age at DA withdrawal 52 years). At last assessment (median follow-up 3 years) and compared with values 6-12 months after stopping DA, Prolactin (PRL) increased in 15%, decreased but not normalized in 33% and was normal in 52%; PRL levels or visible adenoma on imaging before DA withdrawal, treatment duration and presence of macro-/microadenoma at diagnosis were not predictors of normoprolactinaemia at last review, whereas PRL values 6-12 months after stopping DA were. Adenoma regrowth was detected in 2/27 patients (7%), who showed gradual increase in PRL. Comparison with 28 women who had DA withdrawal before their menopause revealed lower risk of hyperprolactinaemia recurrence in the postmenopausal group (HR:0.316, 95% CI: 0.101-0.985, P < .05). Two women with microprolactinoma diagnosed in perimenopausal period had not been offered DA; PRL decreased (but not normalized) during observation of 1 and 8 years. CONCLUSIONS:Prolactin normalized over time in nearly half of the women and serum PRL 6-12 months after DA withdrawal is useful predictor. Nonetheless, 7% of the patients demonstrated adenoma regrowth which, given the life expectancy postmenopause, necessitate regular monitoring of the cases with persistent hyperprolactinaemia.
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