User:Mr. Ibrahem/Hyperprolactinaemia

Hyperprolactinaemia is the presence of high levels of hormone prolactin in the blood. Symptoms in women may include abnormal menstrual periods; while symptoms in men may include erectile dysfunction and breast enlargement. Either sex may be infertility and start producing milk. Complications may include osteoporosis if sex hormone deficiency is present.

High prolactin may occur as a result of life events such as pregnancy, nipple stimulation, seizures, sex, or stress. Underlying diseasea that may lead to prolong high pprolactin include prolactinoma, macroprolactinemia, hypothyroidism, acromegaly, Cushing disease, liver cirrhosis, kidney failure, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and radiation therapy of the head. A number of medications including estrogen, antipsychotics, antidepressants, blood pressure medications, and opioids may also result in high levels. Testing is only recommended in those with either symptoms or a pituitary tumor. Normal levels are less than 360 mIU/L (20 ng/ml) in men and 40 to 530 mIU/L in women (2 to 15 ng/ml). During pregnancy normal levels are 1000 to 8000 mIU/L (50 to 400 ng/ml).

Treatment depends on the underlying cause. Prolactinomas are often well treated with cabergoline. Less than 1% of the general population are affected, though it may be present in up to 14% of people who develop amenorrhea. Women are more commonly affected by prolactinomas than men. While the symptoms that result from high prolactin have been described since the time of Hippocrates, the discovery of the link with prolactin occurred in 1930s.