MENSTRUAL FUNCTION AND SERUM PROLACTIN LEVELS AFTER LONG-TERM BROMOCRIPTINE TREATMENT OF HYPERPROLACTINAEMIC AMENORRHOEA

Abstract

Long-term bromocriptine treatment was discontinued in 37 women with hyperprolactinemic amenorrhea. After cessation of therapy 30 of the 37 women became hyperprolactinemic again with amenorrhea or anovulatory bleeding. Seven of the women continued to have regular ovulatory menstruation but only 3 were normoprolactinemic 3 mo. after stopping treatment. Two of the 7 women had evidence of pituitary tumor regression. After the discontinuation they had nearly normal prolactin levels but during 2 yr of follow up the serum prolactin levels slowly increased. In the 27 women with pretreatment prolactin levels below 100 .mu.g/l there was no difference between the prolactin levels before starting and 1 mo. after stopping treatment, while the women with pretreatment prolactin levels above 100 .mu.g/l had lower levels after therapy. Bromocriptine treatment seldom results in permanent cure of hyperprolactinemic amenorrhea.