Prolactin responsiveness to TRH in amenorrheic women with and without galactorrhea.

Sixty women were given intravenous injection of 200 microgram TRH to assess its diagnostic potential as a stimulus to PRL release. Following the administration of TRH, there was a prompt increase in serum PRL to 614.6%, to 296%, to 282.1%, and 34% in normal women, amenorrheic patients, non tumoral galactorrheic cases, and patients with pituitary tumors respectively. The TRH response above baseline of PRL levels was statistically significant in all groups, but the women with pituitary tumors which showed a blunted response. The per cent of increment of PRL levels after TRH was similar in amenorrheic women regardless the presence or not of galactorrhea; this increase was significantly greater than in patients with pituitary tumors (p less than 0.01). The per cent of increment above baseline of PRL was significantly greater in menstruating women than in amenorrheic patients (p less than 0.001). In basis of present data: 1) there is a diminished PRL secretion after TRH in amenorrheic women regardless the presence of galactorrhea or hyperprolactinemia; 2) a blunted response to TRH in hyperprolactinemic women may be indicative of a pituitary tumor.60 women were given 200 mcg thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) iv to assess its stimulus to prolactin (PRL) release as a diagnostic tool. It has been suggested that a blunted response to TRH in hyperprolactinemic women may be indicative of a pituitary tumor. The group included 6 normal women, 18 with hypothalamic amenorrhea, 31 with idiopathic amenorrhea galactorrhea, and 11 with pituitary tumor. Following TRH administration, serum PRL increased 614.6% in normal women, 296% in the amenorrheic, 282.1% in the nontumoral galactorrheic, and 34% in the patients with pituitary tumors. TRH response above baseline PRL levels was significant (p .001) in all but the tumor patients. Increase above baseline PRL was also greater in menstruating women than in amenorrheic (p .001). It is suggested that there is diminished PRL secretion after TRH in amenorrheic women regardless of the presence of galactorrhea or hyperprolactinemia and that a blunted response may be helpful in separating patients with pituitary tumor from those with galactorrhea of other causes.