Serum prolactin concentration in impotent African males

Serum prolactin concentration, measured by radioimmunoassay, was significantly higher (p less than 0.005) in 49 patients with impotence than in a control population of 16 normal subjects. 26.5% of the impotent patients had hyperprolactinemia. Their serum testosterone was also significantly lower (p less than 0.05). Bromocriptine suppressed the raised prolactin, normalised testosterone in seven treated hyperprolactinemic patients, and restored potency in five of them. These results suggest a possible role for hyperprolactinemia in a substantial proportion of African patients with impotence. Further studies in more affected patients are in order.