Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology
Endocrine Abstracts (2006) 11 P200

ECE2006 Poster Presentations Clinical practise and governance (36 abstracts)

Is a repeat or resting prolactin necessary in the investigation of hyperprolactinaemia?

R Agarwal , S Pramodh , P Durroch , S Chambers , A McGregor & SJB Aylwin


King’s College Hospital, London, United Kingdom.


Background: Prolactin levels are affected by stress, and in patients with moderate hyperprolactinaemia, a repeat test and/or a resting prolactin has been recommended, but there are very few data addressing the utility of these additional measurements.

Aim: To study the value of: A) Repeat measurement and B) Resting measurement of serum prolactin in mild to moderate prolactin excess (510–7500 IU/L).

Methods and subjects: Case note review of 75 patients referred for evaluation of high prolactin (‘referral prolactin’, P0). All patients had a repeat sample done at our investigation unit immediately following insertion of a forearm cannula (‘repeat prolactin’, P1) and a second sample drawn after 120 min bed rest (‘resting prolactin’, P2). P1 and P2 values were corrected for macroprolactin to achieve an estimate of monomeric prolactin. 14/75 patients who were on dopamine receptor antagonists were excluded from the analysis.

Results: P0 median was 1229, range 561 to 5949 IU/L. P1 was normal in 17/61 patients (27%), one due to macroprolactin; amongst these 17, P0 median was 892 IU/L (range 616–1800). Of the remaining 44, eight showed normalisation of resting prolactin, P2; amongst these the P0 median was 1445 IU/L (range 561–2412). However, the highest P1 in those in whom hyperprolactinaemia was excluded was 1062 IU/L.

P0P1P2No. (%)P0 median (range) IU/L
Repeat normalHiLoLo17 (28%)892 (616–1800)
Resting normalHiHiLo8 (13%)1445 (561–2412)
ConfirmedHiHiHi36 (59%)1484 (577–5949)
Total 611229 (561–5949)

Conclusions: 41% of patients with elevated prolactin normalised on further testing. Most of these false positive results would have been corrected by a simple repeat sample. A resting prolactin is probably unnecessary if a simple repeat value is twice the upper limit of normal.

Volume 11

8th European Congress of Endocrinology incorporating the British Endocrine Societies

European Society of Endocrinology 
British Endocrine Societies 

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