[ Study of prolactin and blood gonadotropins in amenorrheas-galactorrhea. Dynamic exploation in 13 cases]

A study of the secretion of prolactin and plasma gonadotrophins was carried out comparatively in 3 groups of patients: histologically confirmed prolactin adenoma (group 1), idiopathic or iatrogenic amenorrhoea/galactorrhoea syndrome (group 2), empty sella turcica syndrome (group 3). The last group differs fundamentally from the two previous by the presence of a normal basal LH and FSH levels and normal LH-RH stimulation. Prolactin is not increased. It may be suppressed by L-dopa and stimulated by TRH. There exist no differences, apart from neuroradiological criteria, between the other two groups. The level of LH is slightly decreased but the response to LRH is positive, this effect often being more clear on FSH. Prolactin levels are raised, this no doubt explaining the negative response to TRH and chlorpromazine stimulation. Suppression by L-dopa is positiive, reflecting the absence of autonomy of prolactin adenomata. The water load test is unsatisfactory. There exists at the present time no method sufficiently discriminating to exclude the presence of a tumour at the origin of an amenorrhoea-galactorrhoea syndrome.