Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Hyperprolactinaemia is the common endocrine disorders. More commonly diagnosed in women due to menstrual irregularity, infertility and galactorrhoea. Hyperprolactinaemia can be due to many physiological stimuli such as stress, sleep, exercise, medications, primary hypothyroidism, renal failure, chest wall lesion. Stress of venepuncture can contribute to hyperprolactinaemia as well.

Patient and methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of the 46 patients those have undergone cannulated prolactin between 2018 and 2019. The information was gathered by reviewing the clinic letters, biochemical and radiological results electronically. We reviewed the past medical history, Pituitary MRI results. A cannula was inserted in the ante-cubital fossa and immediately a prolactin sample was drawn. Repeat prolactin was measured after 20 and 40 min.

Results: The data involved 40 (87%) female and 6 male. Mean age of the patients was 32.41 years. Mean referral prolactin was 920 Mu/l (S.D. 408). 27 (57%) had normal prolactin value after cannulation. Of these 27 patients 12 (44%) had Pituitary MRI that was normal in majority with 2 incidental microadenoma and one Ratke’s cleft cyst.

Conclusion: Cannulated prolactin to be considered whilst dealing with asymptomatic hyperprolactinaemia with a prolactin value of <2000 Mu/l. This will avoid the unnecessary investigations.