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Elevated serum prolactin concentrations in phenylketonuric patients on a ‘loose diet’
Author(s) -
K. H. Schulpis,
Evangelos Papakonstantinou,
Helen Michelakakis,
T. Theodoridis,
Urania Papandreou,
A Constantopoulos
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
clinical endocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1365-2265
pISSN - 0300-0664
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2265.1998.00358.x
Subject(s) - medicine , endocrinology , prolactin , phenylalanine , dopamine , tyrosine , chemistry , radioimmunoassay , urine , group b , amino acid , hormone , biochemistry
OBJECTIVE High levels of phenylalanine (Phe) have been shown to reduce dopamine (DA) and noradrenaline (NA) production. We have therefore evaluated whether increased serum Phe concentrations lead to increased prolactin (PRL) secretion in phenylketonuria. PATIENTS Forty‐two patients with classical phenylketonuria were divided into two groups. Group A ( n = 19) adhered very strictly to their special diet (Phe = 0.09 ± 0.039 mmol/l) and Group B ( n = 23) were on a ‘loose diet’ (Phe = 0.77 ± 0.45 mmol/l). Thirty healthy children of comparable age served as controls. MEASUREMENTS PRL was measured by RIA, and Phe and tyrosine (Tyr) with an amino‐acid autoanalyser. Adrenaline (A), noradrenaline (NA), and dopamine (DA) were measured by HPLC. RESULTS Serum PRL in group B patients (1595 ± 57 mU/l) was significantly raised compared to Group A patients (243 ± 57 mU/l) and controls (201 ± 55 mU/l) ( P < 0.001). Serum DA, A and NA in group B were lower than in group A patients and controls. Serum Phe in group B patients was significantly correlated to serum PRL ( r = 0.59) and DA ( r = − 0.41). Irregular menses were observed in 1/10 women from group A but in 10/13 in group B. CONCLUSION High serum phenylalanine concentrations in phenylketonuric patients not strictly adhering to their diets are correlated with high serum PRL and low serum dopamine concentrations, and a high prevalence of menstrual irregularities.