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Macroprolactinemia: new insights in hyperprolactinemia
Miro Kasum1, Slavko Oreskovic, Ivana Zec
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital Center, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia. mkasum@gmail.com
Biochemia Medica
|July 31, 2012
Summary
Macroprolactinemia, characterized by high molecular weight prolactin, is a common condition in hyperprolactinemic patients. This benign condition often lacks clinical symptoms, negating the need for extensive investigations or treatment.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Clinical Chemistry
Background:
- Hyperprolactinemia results from excessive prolactin secretion from anterior pituitary lactotroph cells.
- Macroprolactinemia involves high molecular mass prolactin forms, often complexed with autoantibodies, affecting 15-46% of hyperprolactinemic individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the characteristics and clinical significance of macroprolactinemia.
- To evaluate diagnostic methods for macroprolactinemia.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on macroprolactinemia.
- Discussion of diagnostic techniques including gel filtration chromatography (GFC) and polyethylene glycol precipitation (PEG).
Main Results:
- Macroprolactinemia is caused by delayed prolactin clearance due to antibody binding, not increased production.
- Clinical symptoms are less frequent compared to true hyperprolactinemia.
- The PEG method is a practical alternative to GFC for macroprolactin detection.
Conclusions:
- Macroprolactinemia is a benign condition with a low incidence of symptoms.
- Extensive hormonal and imaging investigations, treatment, and prolonged follow-up are generally unnecessary for macroprolactinemia.
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