In medicine, there is the concept of "hyperprolactinemia". What it is and how it manifests itself, not everyone knows. But in recent years, such a diagnosis is being made more and more often. Therefore, it is important to know the symptoms of this disorder, methods of treatment, as well as possible complications, so as not to miss the moment and contact a qualified specialist in time.
Features of the disease
Hyperprolactinemia - what is it, how does it manifest itself, how is it treated? This question arises in people who hear such a definition for the first time. Hyperprolactinemia is a condition characterized by elevated levels of the hormone prolactin in the blood. Prolactin is produced by the endocrine gland of the pituitary gland, which is considered the "leader" of the full-fledged work of the endocrine system. It is his responsibility to regulate the functioning of:
- thyroid;
- testicles and ovaries;
- adrenals.
Such a responsibility of the pituitary gland lies in the fact that, in addition toprolactin, produces the hormones LH and FSH.
The role of prolactin in the body
This hormone is responsible for reproduction. Prolactin promotes the growth and development of the mammary glands. Its main task is to stimulate the formation of milk in a woman who has given birth. In the body of a man, this hormone is produced in smaller quantities.
Prolactin together with other hormones (LH, FSH) in a woman's body stimulates the formation of estrogens, which are responsible for the full maturation of the egg. The stability of the menstrual cycle, the likelihood of conception depends on them. If we talk about men, then thanks to these hormones, testosterone is produced. Even sperm motility depends on prolactin.
Classification
Depending on the factors that provoked the development of hyperprolactinemia, it is customary in medicine to divide this condition into types:
1. Physiological. Prolactin levels rise due to normal processes in the human body. Diagnosed in newborns, pregnant and lactating women.
2. Pathological. The reason lies in a certain pathology. But, as practice shows, the pituitary tumor most often causes hyperprolactinemia.
3. Pharmacological. This condition is associated with taking medications, drugs.
4. Idiopathic. Hormone levels are rising for unknown reasons.
Pathogenesis
Physiological hyperprolactinemia occurs as a result of natural processes thatoccur in the human body every day. She is provoked:
1. Pregnancy period. In women, closer to the 7th week of pregnancy, the level of prolactin increases. This process continues throughout all 9 months, but after childbirth (after 1-2 months), all indicators return to normal.
2. Dream. When a person falls asleep, after an hour, the level of prolactin in his blood rises, but after waking up, it drops sharply.
3. Stressful situation. Stress is the factor that provokes disturbances in the body, including the release of more hormones. In the case of prolactin, a stressful situation should be accompanied by a sharp decrease in blood pressure, fainting.
4. Physiological hyperprolactinemia in women occurs during sexual intercourse, any irritation of the mammary gland (especially during breastfeeding).
5. Eating protein food.
6. Any effect on the body that causes pain.
Pathological hyperprolactinemia is provoked by:
1. Diseases of the hypothalamus, pituitary gland (considered the most common cause of this type).
2. Hormonal disorders.
3. Received chest injury.
4. Frequent curettage of the uterine cavity.
5. Polycystic ovary syndrome.
6. Liver problems.
7. Kidney failure.
8. Lupus erythematosus.
Pharmacological occurs due to intake:
- antidepressants;
- contraceptives;
- antihypertensive drugs;
- neuroleptics.
Signs
Hyperprolactinemia in men manifests itself as follows:
- decrease in potency;
- lactorrhea (discharge of colostrum or milk from the nipple);
- psycho-emotional instability;
- infertility;
- osteoporosis;
- obese;
- reducing the severity of secondary sexual characteristics.
Hyperprolactinemia manifests itself differently in everyone. Symptoms in women:
- menstrual irregularity;
- galactorrhea;
- infertility;
- decrease in libido;
- discomfort during intercourse caused by lack of lubrication;
- anorgasmia;
- acne;
- seborrhea of the scalp;
- apoplexy;
- a woman acquires masculine features, her clitoris hypertrophies, hair grows all over her body.
What is special about hyperprolactinemia? Symptoms can be both single and combined with each other. The intensity of the signs is also different. For example, galactorrhea, which occurs in 80% of women with hyperprolactinemia, manifests itself as a slight discharge from the nipple with intense pressure in some patients, while in others it provokes a sudden copious discharge.
Psychic manifestations
Hyperprolactinemia syndrome (another name for this condition) causes insomnia and memory problems in a person. The ability to work is significantly reduced, although there are no visible reasons for this. Othersmental manifestations are:
- constant feeling of anxiety and fear;
- mood swings;
- irritability;
- psychosis (sometimes such conditions are critical, requiring immediate specialist help);
- in rare cases, "heartache" (the so-called spontaneous pain in the chest without an organic basis).
Children
Sometimes a child is diagnosed with hyperprolactinemia. What might this cause in the future? If we talk about a girl, then in adolescence she will have violations in puberty.
Both boys and girls face problems with bone formation. Bones will be weak and brittle.
Examination
What examination does hyperprolactinemia require? The reasons that have been listed necessitate the following diagnostic methods:
- blood test for prolactin levels;
- general analysis of urine and blood;
- skeletal scintigraphy;
- Prostate ultrasound;
- in women ultrasound of the breast, ovaries, uterus;
- X-ray skull;
- CT;
- MRI.
With a blood test for prolactin levels, you need to be very careful. For the accuracy of the indicators, it is taken on the 5-8th day of the menstrual cycle. Not always one analysis is enough to make a diagnosis. Hyperprolactinemia in women is often functional, so it is recommended to resort to this method of examination 3 times.
Treatment
Pharmacological hyperprolactinemia does not cause any special difficulties. Treatment isonly in the abolition of the drug (or its replacement), which caused the violation. Prolactin levels return to normal in a short period. If we talk about the physiological form, then it does not require any intervention.
Drug Therapy
Dopaminomimetic drugs are the basis for the treatment of hyperprolactinemia. They act on the tumor that provoked the disturbance, reducing it. Sometimes it happens that drugs help to get rid of it completely. Subsequently, the level of prolactin in the blood returns to normal.
Hypothyroidism requires the use of thyroid hormones. If the patient has hormonal disorders, the doctor prescribes the appropriate hormonal drugs.
Operation
Surgery is indicated in the following cases:
- apoplexy;
- when drug therapy does not help or the patient does not fit the necessary drugs;
- deterioration of neuralgia.
The operation does not always give the desired result. After it, hyperprolactinemia returns in half of the cases. The patient is also at risk of complications:
- during the operation, the optic nerve, the pituitary stalk or the hypothalamus is damaged;
- a brain hemorrhage may occur.
Radiation therapy
This treatment is used only in extreme cases. Radiation therapy takes a lot of time and requires patience from the patient, because the process can take a year and a half. After this method of treatment, a person can get a hemorrhage inbrain, radiation damage to the nerves, and brain necrosis.
Folk methods
Some doctors recommend that their patients use traditional medicine recipes. But this happens only after the cause of this condition is established.
Popular methods:
- drink mint and chamomile tea several times a day;
- for the stability of the emotional state, it is necessary to use valerian, motherwort, hawthorn, St. John's wort (can be found in a pharmacy).
Folk methods are recommended as an addition to the main drug treatment.
Complications
Hyperprolactinemia, the symptoms of which were not taken into account for a long time, leads to mastopathy or a malignant neoplasm in the mammary gland. The woman is also at risk of uterine hypoplasia.
How does hyperprolactinemia affect metabolism? What does this state do to the metabolism? As it turns out, elevated prolactin levels can cause:
- atherosclerosis;
- hypertension;
- IHD;
- osteoporosis;
- urolithiasis;
- diabetes.
Prevention
There are no exact indications that would help prevent hyperprolactinemia. A person should avoid stressful situations, fully relax. An important role is played by a balanced diet, physical activity (playing sports, regular walking). It is necessary to give up bad habits - alcohol and smoking. Coffee and strong teait is undesirable to use with a diagnosis of "hyperprolactinemia".
Symptoms in women, such as milk flow from the nipple outside of pregnancy, irregular menstrual cycle, are not always alarming and become a reason for consulting a doctor. But this is absolutely wrong! After all, such signs are a signal that there are violations in the body that cannot be ignored. This also applies to men. Therefore, you need to be more careful about your he alth and not forget that any violations are justified by something and can cause dangerous complications.
