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VERTEBRAL BONE DENSITY IN NON‐AMENORRHOEIC HYPERPROLACTINAEMIC WOMEN
Author(s) -
CICCARELLI E.,
SAVINO L.,
CARLEVATTO V.,
BERTAGNA A.,
ISAIA G.C.,
CAMANNI F.
Publication year - 1988
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 - 10.1111/j.1365-2265.1988.tb01195.x
Subject(s) - endocrinology , medicine , osteoporosis , hypoestrogenism , amenorrhea , bone mineral , lumbar spine , pregnancy , biology , surgery , genetics
SUMMARY Recently, a decrease in bone mineral content (BMC) in hyperprolactinaemic women with long‐lasting amenorrhoea has been reported, and attributed either to a direct effect of PRL on bone or secondary to the oestrogen deficiency. To verify if PRL by itself has a direct effect on bone, we have studied BMC at the lumbar level by double‐photon absorptiometry in 22 patients with hyperprolac‐tinaemia, selected on the basis of normal or near‐normal oestradiol levels. The results were compared with those obtained in 28 healthy closely‐matched women, and seven hyperprolactinaemic patients with long‐lasting amenorrhoea and oestrogen deficiency. No significant difference in BMC was observed between hyperprolactinaemic patients with normal oestrogen levels (mean ± SEM = 3.87 ± 0.10 gHA/cm) and normal subjects (mean ± SEM = 3.76±0.10 gHA/cm). Moreover, no significant change was observed during a 6 month follow‐up in 13 patients. On the other hand, a significant difference ( P < 0.05) was detected in BMC between the hyperprolactinaemic patients with normal oestradiol levels and those with long‐lasting amenorrhoea and oestrogen deficiency (mean ± SEM = 3.39 ± 0.18). These results suggest that hyperprolac‐tinaemia by itself is not a risk factor for the development of osteoporosis.