[Long-term use of parlodel in acromegaly]

The authors studied the basal and L-DOPA-stimulated levels of STH and basal level of prolactin in blood serum of 128 patients presenting with acromegaly. The basal levels of STH and prolactin were found to be elevated in the majority of patients with an active disease stage. Long-term (for 5-6 years) therapy with parlodel (2.5-20 mg a day) produced a disease remission. It is concluded that parlodel can be used not only as an additional agent to x-ray therapy or hypophysectomy but also as monotherapy, provided that the drug is applied for a long time.