Hormone patterns during bromocriptine-induced pregnancy in hyperprolactinemic patients

Plasma prolactin (PRL) and human placental lactogen (HPL), and urinary estriol and pregnanediol were studied during pregnancies induced with bromocriptine (Parlodel, Sandoz) in 10 cases of hyperprolactinemia. Previous selective adenomectomy or intrasellar implantation of radioactive gold (198Au) failed to induce a complete remission in 3 of these subjects. PRL rapidly increases after bromocriptine withdrawal, reaching values higher than those in normal women in the same stage of pregnancy within a few weeks. At term, pathological PRL levels occurred in 3 subjects only (with distinct alterations of the sella turcica). Estriol, pregnanediol and HPL were normal in all cases. These findings suggest that PRL levels higher than those normally observed during pregnancy do not alter fetoplacental endocrine function.