Prolactin-secreting tumors and hypogonadism in 22 men

JN Carter, JE Tyson, G Tous, S Van Vliet… - … England Journal of …, 1978 - Mass Medical Soc
JN Carter, JE Tyson, G Tous, S Van Vliet, C Faiman, HG Friesen
New England Journal of Medicine, 1978Mass Medical Soc
We studied 22 men with prolactin-secreting pituitary tumors and hypogonadism. Twenty
complained of impotence, nine had visual impairment, and three experienced galactorrhea.
None of the 17 patients undergoing operation or radiotherapy, or both, were subsequently
normoprolactinemic. In all 13 patients treated with bromocryptine major clinical improvement
was associated with a decrease in serum prolactin levels and in nine with an increase in
serum testosterone. Two patients receiving testosterone replacement therapy showed …
Abstract
We studied 22 men with prolactin-secreting pituitary tumors and hypogonadism. Twenty complained of impotence, nine had visual impairment, and three experienced galactorrhea. None of the 17 patients undergoing operation or radiotherapy, or both, were subsequently normoprolactinemic. In all 13 patients treated with bromocryptine major clinical improvement was associated with a decrease in serum prolactin levels and in nine with an increase in serum testosterone. Two patients receiving testosterone replacement therapy showed improved potency only after bromocryptine was administered. The results indicate that hyperprolactinemia frequently induces hypogonadism in men, that bromocryptine ameliorates symptoms of disease previously unchanged by operation or radiotherapy, and that the impotence observed may not be solely the result of hypogonadism. (N Engl J Med 299:847–852, 1978)
The New England Journal Of Medicine