Hyperprolactinemia in Girls with Idiopathic Precocious Puberty Under Prolonged Treatment with Cyproterone Acetate

Abstract

Plasma prolactin response to the acute injection of sulpiride (1.5 mg/k BW [body weight] i.m.) was measured at 0800-0900 h in 4 girls with idopathic precocious puberty before and after 6 to 11 mo. of continuous therapy with 50 mg daily of cyproterone acetate (CA) orally administered. Two additional girls were examined after 26 and 28 mo. of therapy, respectively. Mean baseline prolactin concentrations were significantly higher in untreated girls with precocious puberty as compared to that of normal controls of the same chronological age and of a comparable degree of sexual maturation (14.5 .+-. 1.9 SE vs. 7.4 .+-. 1.8 SE ng/ml and vs. 9.5 .+-. 1.8 ng/ml, respectively; P < .02). Treatment with CA caused a significant further increase of plasma prolactin concentration (P < .02 as compared to pre-treatment values); no correlation was observed between prolactin concentration and duration of treatment. No significant change in the integrated areas of prolactin response to sulpiride occurred after prolonged CA therapy. In idiopathic precocious puberty the action of CA upon the hypothalamic-hypophyseal complex is not solely antigonadotrophic and prolactin secretion is enhanced in patients given this drug.