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Treatment of Acromegaly with Bromocriptine
Author(s) -
Wang C.,
Chan V.,
Yeung R. T. T.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-5994
pISSN - 0004-8291
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-5994.1979.tb04128.x
Subject(s) - bromocriptine , medicine , acromegaly , endocrinology , prolactin , diabetes mellitus , urinary system , hydroxyproline , glucose tolerance test , gastroenterology , insulin resistance , hormone , growth hormone
Summary: Five men and three women with active acromegaly were treated with bromocriptine. After three months' therapy (30 mglday) mean GH during the day decreased by 50% in six out of eight subjects. In the remaining two subjects (non‐responders) GH was persistently over 100 μg/1. Mean GH during glucose tolerance test were not significantly decreased in three out of the eight subjects, of whom two were the non‐responders. The minimum dose of bromocriptine required to achieve maximum GH suppression ranged from 7·5 to 20 mglday. In contrast, serum prolactin (PRL) throughout the day suppressed significantly in all subjects after 5 mglday bromocriptine. Decreases in clinical symptoms, hand volume, urinary hydroxyproline and calcium excretion were seen in about half of the subjects. Three of the four subjects with diabetes metlitus showed improvement in glucose tolerance. Although minor side effects were uncommon, one patient died because of massive gastrointestinal haemorrhage from a duodenal ulcer.