Follow-up of patients with prolactinomas after discontinuation of long-term therapy with bromocriptine

The effects of bromocriptine discontinuation after a 2 year course of therapy on prolactin (Prl) serum levels and the radiological size of the sella turcica were investigated in 16 women with amenorrhoea-galactorrhoea due to prolactinoma. During therapy, all but 2 patients had normalized serum Prl levels, and 4 women with macroprolactinomas exhibited a reduction in the size of the tumour as documented by CT-scanning and tomography of the sellae. After bromocriptine withdrawal and follow-up during 2 additional years, Prl levels remained normal in 6 patients, 2 of them with microprolactinomas and 4 with macroprolactinoma. The remaining 10 women developed hyperprolactinaemia associated with amenorrhoea and galactorrhoea within 3 months after discontinuation of therapy. No tumour expansion was observed in any case during the 4 year observation period. In the present study bromocriptine treatment seemed to result in permanent cure in 6 out of 16 cases of prolactinomas; nevertheless it is difficult to justify an indefinite medical treatment since the natural history of prolactinoma remains unknown. We presently feel that bromocriptine is more appropriate than neurosurgical transsphenoidal exploration for the primary treatment of prolactinomas. Further investigation is needed before a more definitive conclusion regarding the management of prolactinomas can be reached.