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Hyperprolactinemia and Thyrotropin‐Releasing Factor (TRH) Responses in Men with Alcoholic Liver Disease
Author(s) -
Thiel David H. Van,
McClain Craig J.,
Elson Michael K.,
McMillin Michael J.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
alcoholism: clinical and experimental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 153
eISSN - 1530-0277
pISSN - 0145-6008
DOI - 10.1111/j.1530-0277.1978.tb04740.x
Subject(s) - gynecomastia , medicine , alcoholic liver disease , prolactin , endocrinology , basal (medicine) , feminization (sociology) , cirrhosis , fatty liver , chronic alcoholic , thyrotropin releasing hormone , testosterone (patch) , liver disease , stimulation , disease , hormone , social science , sociology , insulin
Prolactin responses to provocative thyrotropin‐releasing factor (TRH) stimulation were evaluated in 43 chronic alcoholic men and 11 normal volunteers. The alcoholic men were divided into groups for analysis based on the presence or absence of gynecomastia and the histologic appearance of their livers as determined by percutaneous liver biopsy. Compared to the normal volunteers, alcoholics with reversible liver disease (fatty liver) had reduced basal prolactin levels and exaggerated TRH responses. In contrast, alcoholics with cirrhosis and gynecomastia had markedly elevated basal prolactin levels and reduced responses to TRH. The results of this study combined with previously reported findings in cirrhotic men provide a basis for a possible explanation for the signs of feminization frequently found in alcoholic men.