Abstract
A patient with a macroprolactinoma was treated with bromocriptine 15 mg daily. Both the size of the tumour as shown by computed tomography and the serum prolactin concentration decreased over several months but then increased. The dose of bromocriptine was increased to 40 mg daily but tumour growth continued, and the tumour was resected. Production of prolactin by cultured cells was not inhibited by high concentrations of bromocriptine, suggesting that regrowth of the tumour was due to cells resistant to dopamine agonist action. This case of regrowth of a prolactinoma during bromocriptine treatment after an initial reduction in size indicates the need for close surveillance especially of patients whose serum prolactin concentration fails to fall into the normal range with bromocriptine treatment.
Full text
PDF
Images in this article
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Chiodini P., Liuzzi A., Cozzi R., Verde G., Oppizzi G., Dallabonzana D., Spelta B., Silvestrini F., Borghi G., Luccarelli G. Size reduction of macroprolactinomas by bromocriptine or lisuride treatment. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1981 Oct;53(4):737–743. doi: 10.1210/jcem-53-4-737. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Dallabonzana D., Spelta B., Oppizzi G., Tonon C., Luccarelli G., Chiodini P. G., Liuzzi A. Reenlargement of macroprolactinomas during bromocriptine treatment: report of two cases. J Endocrinol Invest. 1983 Feb;6(1):47–50. doi: 10.1007/BF03350560. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- McGregor A. M., Scanlon M. F., Hall R., Hall K. Effects of bromocriptine on pituitary tumour size. Br Med J. 1979 Sep 22;2(6192):700–703. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.6192.700. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Sobrinho L. G., Nunes M. C., Calhaz-Jorge C., Maurício J. C., Santos M. A. Effect of treatment with bromocriptine on the size and activity of prolactin producing pituitary tumours. Acta Endocrinol (Copenh) 1981 Jan;96(1):24–29. doi: 10.1530/acta.0.0960024. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Thorner M. O., Perryman R. L., Rogol A. D., Conway B. P., Macleod R. M., Login I. S., Morris J. L. Rapid changes of prolactinoma volume after withdrawal and reinstitution of bromocriptine. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1981 Sep;53(3):480–483. doi: 10.1210/jcem-53-3-480. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Wass J. A., Williams J., Charlesworth M., Kingsley D. P., Halliday A. M., Doniach I., Rees L. H., McDonald W. I., Besser G. M. Bromocriptine in management of large pituitary tumours. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1982 Jun 26;284(6333):1908–1911. doi: 10.1136/bmj.284.6333.1908. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]