Causes of Elevated Prolactin
Aug 03, 2020
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhang Nan
Introduction
1. Neural stimulation: Severe pain caused by peripheral nerve injury can be transmitted via nerves to the hypothalamus, thereby elevating prolactin levels.
2. Drug effects: Oral contraceptives can increase prolactin secretion from the pituitary gland while decreasing gonadotropin secretion.
3. Pituitary tumors: Primarily refers to various tumors located in the pituitary gland in females, leading to elevated prolactin levels.
4. Hypothalamic disorders.
Prolactin is a polypeptide hormone, also known as prolactin (PRL), and is one of the hormones secreted by the pituitary gland. The main causes of elevated prolactin levels include the following:
1. Neural stimulation. Stimulation of certain areas—particularly the skin of the chest—including severe pain caused by peripheral nerve injury, can transmit neural signals to the hypothalamus, thereby increasing prolactin secretion. Examples include thoracic surgery, burns, and herpes zoster affecting the chest or back.
2. Drug effects. Oral contraceptives can increase pituitary prolactin secretion while decreasing gonadotropin secretion. Prolonged use of drugs such as reserpine, chlorpromazine, and morphine alters dopamine production, absorption, and metabolism, thereby inhibiting the release of prolactin-inhibiting factor (PIF) and leading to excessive prolactin secretion.
3. Pituitary tumors. This primarily refers to various tumors located in the pituitary gland in females, which cause hyperprolactinemia. Typical symptoms include breast tenderness, galactorrhea, oligomenorrhea, and amenorrhea.
4. Hypothalamic disorders. Diseases of the hypothalamus itself or adjacent regions in females may reduce the production of prolactin-inhibiting factor (PIF) or increase the release of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and prolactin-releasing factor (PRF).
