Increase in Bone Mass after Treatment of Hyperprolactinemic Amenorrhea

Abstract

Hyperprolactinemia occurs in 25 to 30 percent of young women with amenorrhea, and this condition is known to be associated with osteopenia. To determine whether the osteopenia is affected by treatment of hyperprolactinemia, we studied 32 women with hyperprolactinemic amenorrhea prospectively for 12 to 72 months to investigate the effects of sustained hyperprolactinemia or return of gonadal function on bone mass. We studied 18 patients using direct photon absorptiometry before and after normalization of serum prolactin levels. Initial bone densities ranged from 0.55 to 0.77 g per square centimeter (mean ±1 SD, 0.64±0.05) — densities significantly lower (P<0.001) than those of controls (0.71±0.04 g per square centimeter). After therapy, bone density increased significantly (P<0.001), to 0.67±0.05 g per square centimeter, but remained lower (P<0.05) than normal.