Comprehensive understanding of female hyperprolactinemia

Clinically, there is a kind of hyperprolactinemia in women that can cause a variety of symptoms, making many women suffer. In order to give you a comprehensive understanding of hyperprolactinemia in women, the following is a detailed introduction. Let's take a comprehensive look at hyperprolactinemia in women.

Definition of HyperPRLemia

The state of continuous increase in peripheral blood PRL level caused by various reasons is called hyperprolactinemia, that is, high PRLemia. Standardized blood sample collection and stable and accurate laboratory measurements are crucial to the diagnosis of high PRLemia. Each laboratory should define the normal range of serum PRL levels based on its own laboratory data.

Causes of high PRL levels

High PRLemia is a clinical pathophysiological state rather than a disease and can be caused by a variety of physiological, pharmacological, and pathological conditions.

1. Physiological

The hypothalamus of the central nervous system has a bidirectional regulatory effect on PRL through PRL inhibitory factor (PIF) and PRL releasing factor (PRF). Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) promotes PRL secretion, but it is not yet certain whether it has physiological significance. Other PRFs include gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), serotonin, opium peptide μ receptors, etc. Estrogen can directly stimulate PRL cell proliferation and hypertrophy, promoting PRL release. Progesterone can also increase PRL secretion.

2. Pharmacology

Drugs induce hyperPRLemia by antagonizing hypothalamic dopamine or enhancing PRF stimulation.

3. Pathological

Diseases of the hypothalamus or adjacent parts; pituitary diseases; primary hypothyroidism; chronic renal insufficiency; cirrhosis, hepatic encephalopathy; ectopic PRL secretion; chest wall disease or chronic breast irritation; multiple endocrine neoplasia type I; patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), patients with endometriosis, etc.

4. Idiopathic

It refers to a mild increase in blood PRL levels accompanied by symptoms, but no cause for the increase in blood PRL levels has been found. It may be caused by diffuse proliferation of PRL-secreting cells.