Abnormalities in the regulation of prolactin in patients with chronic renal failure.

We have investigated the hypothalamic-hypophyseal regulation of prolactin secretion in patients with chronic renal failure treated with chronic hemodialysis. When compared to control subjects, baseline serum prolactin levels were elevated in the renal failure patients (range 11 to 16 mmicrogram/ml for renal failure patients, 6 to 9 mmicrogram/ml for controls, P less than 0.05). In addition, serum prolactin levels in the renal failure patients failed to suppress significantly following the administration of L-dopa, and did not increase in response to chlorpromazine or thyrotropin releasing hormone. These findings suggest an abnormal regulation of prolactin secretion and appear to be another example of the endocrine dysfunction that occurs in uremic subjects.