[The response of ovarian function to HMG-HCG and bromocriptine therapies in hyperprolactinemic patients]

Plasma hormonal changes were analysed in patients with hyperprolactinemia who conceived following Bromocriptine therapy. Following the administration of HMG-HCG and Bromocriptine, serial plasma samples were collected from the cases. Plasma levels of FSH, LH, prolactin (PRL), estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-P), 20 alpha-dihydroprogesterone (20 alpha-P), progesterone (P) were determined simultaneously using specific radioimmunoassays. Pretreatment PRL levels, 180--420 ng/ml, were normalized by 7.5--12.5 mg/day of Bromocriptine treatment causing a rapid decrease in plasma PRL, reaching a plateau within several days. The first LH surge at midcycle after the start of the Bromocriptine treatment was established at 10--50 days. In the patients the first mid-cycle LH surge was observed, but the luteal phase was definitely short, as demonstrated by plasma progestins levels. The results from the present longitudinal studies on hyperprolactinemia revealed characteristic changes accompanied by the restoration of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian function during the treatment period.