Galactorrhea

Background/Purpose: A prolactinoma is the most common pituitary adenoma, but it is relatively rare in childhood and adolescence. There is only limited research about the clinical spectrum, treatment, and outcomes of prolactinomas in childhood and adolescence. In this single-center cohort study, we assessed the clinical, hormonal, and neuroradiological characteristics and therapeutic outcomes of children and adolescents with prolactinomas. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 25 patients with prolactinomas diagnosed before 19 years of age, who presented at Samsung Medical Center during a 15-year period (March 2005 to August 2019). Results: The median age at diagnosis was 16.9 (range 10.1-18.5) years, and 80% of the patients were female. The common clinical manifestations at diagnosis were galactorrhea (10/20, 50%) and amenorrhea (9/20, 45%) among females and visual field defects (3/5, 60%) and headaches (2/5, 40%) among males. In our cohort, macroadenomas accounted for 56% of cases, and the rate of overall responsiveness to dopamine agonists (DAs) was 56% (10/18). Male gender, the prolactin (PRL) level at diagnosis, and the presence of panhypopituitarism were positively correlated with maximum tumor diameter (r = 0.443, P = 0.026; r = 0.710, P r = 0.623, P = 0.001, respectively). After the trans-sphenoidal approach (TSA), 53% (8/15) of patients showed normalization of the PRL level. Three patients, who underwent gamma knife surgery (GKS) owing to either resistance or intolerance to DAs or recurrence after the TSA, achieved a normal PRL level accompanied with marked tumor reduction and symptom remission. Conclusions: A macroprolactinoma is more prevalent than a microprolactinoma in children and adolescents than in adults. Male gender, increased PRL levels, and the presence of panhypopituitarism at diagnosis are closely related to macroprolactinomas in children and adolescents.

An 18-year-old woman was admitted to Motahari Burn Center suffering from 30% burns. Treatment modalities were carried out for the patient and she was discharged after 20 days. Three to four months later she developed hypertrophic scar on her chest and upper limbs. At the same time she developed galactorrhea in both breasts and had a disturbed menstrual cycle four months post-burn. On investigation, we found hyperprolactinemia and no other reasons for the high level of prolactin were detected.She received treatment for both the hypertrophic scar and the severe itching she was experiencing. After seven months, her prolactin level had decreased but had not returned to the normal level. It seems that refractory hypertrophic scar is related to the high level of prolactin in burns patients.

The usual clinical presentation of non-functioning pituitary adenoma (NFPA) consists of symptoms of mass effect and hypopituitarism. NFPA is a rare condition in young women and an uncommon complication during pregnancy. We present the outcome of three patients with NFPA during pregnancy. Case 1: a 38-year-old woman was referred at 32nd week of spontaneous pregnancy because of diagnosis of a pituitary macroadenoma discovered in the context of progressive visual loss. Hormonal deficiency and hypersecretion were ruled out. Prolactin levels were high as expected. She developed diplopia and severe headache despite the use of dopamine agonists and corticosteroids, so pregnancy was interrupted at 34th week. After an uncomplicated delivery of a healthy newborn, transsphenoidal surgery was performed. The pathology was consistent with a gonadotroph adenoma. She recovered visual field, and remained with normal pituitary function. Postsurgical tumor remnant increased in size during the follow-up. Case 2: a 34-year-old woman was referred due to secondary amenorrhea and galactorrhea. A macroadenoma with suprasellar extension was discovered. Transsphenoidal surgery confirmed a gonadotroph adenoma. Two years after surgery she had a normal pregnancy. Six years after surgery a small tumor recurrence occurred. Case 3: a 23-year-old woman was referred due to a microincidental pituitary adenoma. Laboratory testing was normal. No findings on physical examination. A wait and see approach was decided. Two years after diagnosis, the patient got pregnant without complications. Image remained stable. This article may contribute new cases and provides an extensive review of NFPA during pregnancy.

BackgroundOmeprazole belongs to the pharmacological classifications of proton pump inhibitors and is a widely used medicine. All proton pump inhibitors have a common mechanism of action and are prodrugs that require activation in an acidic environment. Omeprazole is extensively metabolized in the liver by cytochrome 2C19 and cytochrome 3A4, which are responsible for drug interactions. Omeprazole-induced galactorrhea is a rare adverse event of drug metabolism and is often underreported.Case presentationThis is a case of a 26-year-old unmarried Asian (Bhutanese) female who underwent kidney transplant and was administered standard antirejection medication (tacrolimus, prednisolone, and leflunomide) along with an antihypertensive agent. She came to the emergency department with complaints of nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, chronic gastritis, anemia, hypertension, and loss of appetite. The tacrolimus trough level was in the subtherapeutic range at admission. The tacrolimus dose was adjusted, and oral omeprazole was administered. After 3 days, she experienced milk production from her left breast, which according to the patient was her second incidence after omeprazole ingestion.ConclusionCausality assessment using Naranjo's algorithm and recovering from galactorrhea after stopping omeprazole and omeprazole rechallenge with the reappearance of galactorrhea confirmed omeprazole as the causative agent. Tacrolimus interferes with omeprazole metabolism and increases tacrolimus levels in the blood. Caution needs to be taken when omeprazole is administered with other drugs that interfere with metabolizing enzymes.