Related Experiment Videos
Radiation-induced hyperprolactinaemia in a treated acromegalic
Clinical Endocrinology
|January 1, 1979
Summary
External pituitary irradiation effectively treated acromegaly by lowering growth hormone (GH) but unexpectedly caused hyperprolactinemia due to hypothalamic damage. This suggests radiation may also contribute to persistent high prolactin in prolactinoma patients.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Neurosurgery
- Oncology
Background:
- Acromegaly, a condition caused by excess growth hormone (GH), is often treated with pituitary surgery and/or irradiation.
- Hyperprolactinemia, characterized by elevated prolactin levels, can be a side effect of pituitary disorders or treatments.
Observation:
- A 31-year-old patient with acromegaly became normoprolactinaemic post-surgery but developed hyperprolactinemia after external pituitary irradiation.
- Post-irradiation, mean GH levels decreased from 75 mU/l to <1 mU/l within 2 years, while prolactin levels increased.
- These hormonal changes were confirmed 3 and 4 years post-irradiation, indicating a persistent effect.
Findings:
- The hyperprolactinemia was attributed to radiation-induced damage to the hypothalamus.
- External pituitary irradiation, while effective for GH reduction in acromegaly, can induce hypothalamic dysfunction.
Implications:
- This mechanism of radiation-induced hypothalamic damage may contribute to persistent hyperprolactinemia in patients treated for prolactinomas.
- Clinicians should consider potential hypothalamic damage when assessing hormonal changes after pituitary irradiation, particularly in prolactinoma patients.