The diagnosis and prevalence of hypoprolactinemia in patients with panhypopituitarism and the effects on depression and sexual functions
Authors' conclusion
PRL deficiency is prevalent among individuals with panhypopituitarism, with the potential to result in elevated depression scores in both sexes and impaired sexual functions in males. A basal PRL level seems to be sufficient for the diagnosis of hypoprolactinemia in routine clinical practice.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with panhypopituitarism and healthy volunteers
- Participants
- 48 vs 20
- Exposure
- Panhypopituitarism vs healthy controls
- Panhypopituitarismn = 48
- Controlsn = 20reference
- Outcome
- Prevalence of hypoprolactinemia (insufficient PRL response to TRH stimulation test) and its diagnostic criteria
Methodological detailscase–control comparison with healthy volunteers, TRH stimulation test
- Case–control comparison with healthy volunteers
- TRH stimulation test
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Patients with insufficient PRL
42
87.5%
Cut-off for sufficient PRL response (5th percentile of peak PRL to TRH in controls), males
18.6 ng/ml
Cut-off for sufficient PRL response (5th percentile of peak PRL to TRH in controls), females
41.6 ng/ml
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Basal PRL for predicting inadequate response to TRH
- Males: basal PRL ≤ 5.7 ng/ml, specificity
- 100%
- Males: basal PRL ≤ 5.7 ng/ml, sensitivity
- 80%
- Females: basal PRL 7.11 ng/ml, specificity
- 100%
- Females: basal PRL 7.11 ng/ml, sensitivity
- 70%
Basal PRL for predicting adequate response to TRH
- Males: basal PRL ≥ 8.5 ng/dl, specificity
- 100%
- Males: basal PRL ≥ 8.5 ng/dl, sensitivity
- 76%
- Females: basal PRL ≥ 15.2 ng/dl, specificity
- 96%
- Females: basal PRL ≥ 15.2 ng/dl, sensitivity
- 66%
Depression (BDI-II) and sexual function scores
- PRL-deficient patients had higher depression scores vs controls, and lower sexual function scores in males
Original publication
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