Table 2.
The aetiologies of hyperprolactinaemia in a sample of hyperprolactinaemic patients (N = 507)
| Cause of hyperprolactinaemia | n (%)* | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Female (n = 340) | Male (n = 167) | ||
| Prolactinoma | 63 (18.5) | 23 (13.8) | 86 (17) |
| Microprolactinoma | 48 (14.1) | 11 (6.6) | 59 (11.6) |
| Macroprolactinoma | 15 (4.4) | 12 (7.2) | 27 (5.3) |
| Transient | 58 (17.1) | 16 (9.6) | 74 (14.6) |
| Drug-induced | 48 (14.1) | 25 (15) | 73 (14.4) |
| PCOS | 60 (17.6) | - | 60 (11.8) |
| Seizure | 10 (2.9) | 29 (17.4) | 39 (7.7) |
| Sellar masses excluding prolactinomas | 12 (3.5) | 22 (13.2) | 34 (6.7) |
| Acute illness | 11 (3.2) | 23 (13.8) | 34 (6.7) |
| Idiopathic | 25 (7.4) | 5 (3) | 30 (5.9) |
| CKD | 9 (2.6) | 19 (11.4) | 28 (5.5) |
| Pregnancy | 20 (5.9) | - | 20 (3.9) |
| Other† | 13 (3.8) | 3 (1.8) | 16 (3.2) |
| Empty sella syndrome | 8 (2.4) | 1 (0.6) | 9 (1.8) |
PCOS = polycystic ovarian syndrome; CKD = chronic kidney disease.
*
Percentages do not add up to 100 as reported causes are not mutually exclusive.
†
Other reasons included breastfeeding (n = 8), localised breast irritation/infection/surgery (n = 6), hypothyroidism (n = 4), hypoplastic pituitary (n = 1) and syncope (n = 1).