Hypoprolactinemia, a neglected endocrine disorder

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology and Metabolic Disorders
• Reproductive Medicine
• Neuroendocrinology

Background:

• Prolactin (PRL) is crucial for mammary gland function, but also impacts reproduction, development, homeostasis, neuroprotection, behavior, and immunoregulation.
• While hyperprolactinemia is well-understood and treatable, hypoprolactinemia remains a neglected endocrine disorder with no specific replacement therapy.
• Hypoprolactinemia is notably absent from clinical hypopituitarism guidelines, indicating a gap in current medical practice.

Discussion:

• This special issue focuses on hypoprolactinemia, exploring its pathophysiology, clinical consequences, and the association with metabolic, sexual, and neuropsychological alterations.
• The multidisciplinary contributions aim to consolidate current knowledge and highlight the diverse physiological roles of prolactin beyond lactation.
• Emphasis is placed on the need to enhance understanding of this under-recognized condition.

Key Insights:

• Hypoprolactinemia is linked to significant metabolic, sexual, and neuropsychological disturbances in humans.
• Prolactin plays a more extensive role in physiological functions than previously emphasized in clinical settings.
• The lack of specific replacement therapies for hypoprolactinemia necessitates further research and clinical attention.

Outlook:

• Future research should focus on developing specific replacement therapies for hypoprolactinemia.
• Clinical guidelines need to be updated to include hypoprolactinemia and its management.
• Continued multidisciplinary investigation is essential to fully elucidate the impact of prolactin deficiency.