THE CLINICAL USE OF PROLACTIN*

Abstract

Prolactin, prepared and assayed by Bates and Riddle as previously described (1), in sterile solution at pH 8.0–8.4 was injected intramuscularly in the buttocks. The dose varied from 2.5–10.0 cc. (75–400 units). When the dose was divided the second injection followed within 12–24 hours. The subjects were 37 women delivered of normal children at the Sloane Hospital for Women (Table I). All were afebrile except one who had a moderately severe sapremia. Twenty-nine cases were chosen in which lactation had failed to develop adequately by the sixth day (fifth in two cases) or later postpartum. These were cases which, in the clinical experience of the staff, would in almost every instance have failed further to improve in milk production. In 21 of these cases there was a gain greater than 100 gm. of breast milk daily when comparison is made between the day preceding prolactin dosage and the date of the patient’s discharge 3–9 days later (good result). In four cases the gain was from 50-100 gm. (moderate result). The amount of increase in these 25 cases ranged between 50 and 400 gm.