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Physiological (i.e., non-pathological) causes that can increase prolactin levels include: ovulation, pregnancy, breastfeeding, chest wall injury, stress, stress-associated REM sleep, and exercise. [20] [4] [21] During pregnancy, prolactin increases can range up to 600 ng/mL, depending on estrogen and progesterone concentrations. After delivery ...
Prolactin has a wide variety of effects. It stimulates the mammary glands to produce milk (): increased serum concentrations of prolactin during pregnancy cause enlargement of the mammary glands and prepare for milk production, which normally starts when levels of progesterone fall by the end of pregnancy and a suckling stimulus is present.
When symptoms are present, medical therapy is the treatment of choice. Patients with hyperprolactinemia and no symptoms (idiopathic or microprolactinoma) can be monitored without treatment. Consider treatment for women with amenorrhea. In addition, dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scanning should be considered to evaluate bone density.
One cause of pituitary growth associated with the risk of Sheehan's syndrome is the hyperplasia of lactotrophs which produce prolactin, the hormone responsible for milk production. [5] Other hormone-secreting cells of the pituitary undergo rapid growth in pregnant women as well, which contribute to the gland's enlargement.
Hypoprolactinemia can result from autoimmune disease, [2] hypopituitarism, [1] growth hormone deficiency, [2] hypothyroidism, [2] excessive dopamine action in the tuberoinfundibular pathway and/or the anterior pituitary, and ingestion of drugs that activate the D 2 receptor, such as direct D 2 receptor agonists like bromocriptine and pergolide, and indirect D 2 receptor activators like ...
Galactorrhea can also be caused by antipsychotics that cause hyperprolactinemia by blocking dopamine receptors responsible for control of prolactin release. Of these, risperidone is the most notorious for causing this complication. [5] Case reports suggest proton-pump inhibitors have been shown to cause galactorrhea.
Mechanical detection of suckling increases prolactin levels in the body to increase milk synthesis. Excess prolactin may inhibit the menstrual cycle directly, by a suppressive effect on the ovary, or indirectly, by decreasing the release of GnRH. [2] Suckling is a pivotal factor in maintaining lactational amenorrhea postpartum.
A prolactinoma is a tumor of the pituitary gland that produces the hormone prolactin.It is the most common type of functioning pituitary tumor. [1] Symptoms of prolactinoma are due to abnormally high levels of prolactin in the blood (hyperprolactinemia), or due to pressure of the tumor on surrounding brain tissue and/or the optic nerves.