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PROLACTIN LEVELS AND PITUITARY ENLARGEMENT IN HORMONE‐TREATED MALE‐TO‐FEMALE TRANSSEXUALS
Author(s) -
ASSCHEMAN H.,
GOOREN L. J. G.,
ASSIES J.,
SMITS J. P. H.,
SLEGTE R.
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.tb03849.x
Subject(s) - medicine , endocrinology , prolactin , cyproterone acetate , hormone , pituitary gland , androgen
SUMMARY PRL levels were evaluated during long‐term treatment with cyproterone acetate 100 mg and ethinyloestradiol 100 μg/day orally or depot‐oestrogens in 214 male‐to‐female transsexuals. PRL levels increased above normal in all subjects (normal < 300 mU/l). In 46 (21.4%) subjects PRL levels rose to > 1000 mU/l. The incidence of PRL levels > 1000 mU/l was 3.7–7.2% per treatment year. Grossly elevated PRL levels were associated with high doses of oestrogens ( P < 0.05) and advanced age at the start of treatment ( P < 0.05). In 23 subjects PRL levels > 1000 mU/l decreased by more than 50% spontaneously ( n = 5) or after dose reduction ( n = 18). In five of the subgroup of 15 subjects with persistent PRL levels > 1000 mU/l enlargement of the pituitary gland was shown by CT‐scanning. These data suggest that the lowest possible oestrogen dose and lifelong follow‐up of hormone‐treated male‐to‐female transsexuals is essential.