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Endocrine Conditions in Pediatrics pp 197–200Cite as

Prolactin

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Abstract

Prolactin is a hormone secreted by pituitary lactotropes that is under tonic inhibition by dopamine but can be stimulated by thyrotropin releasing hormone. Elevations in prolactin may be (i) physiological, for example, during sleep, pregnancy, and lactation, following exercise, high-protein meals, or nipple stimulation, and with chest wall lesions; (ii) induced by medications, particularly certain anti-psychotics, estrogen-containing medications, and metoclopramide, among others; (iii) consequent to pituitary stalk compression, as with sellar and extrasellar tumors and cysts, granulomatous and infiltrative lesions; or (iv) because of a micro- or macroprolactinoma. Prolactin levels may be low in patients with POU1F1 and PROP1 mutations, and following severe postpartum hemorrhage. Falsely low prolactin levels may occur because of the “hook” effect, while macroprolactinemia (from an increase in “macroprolactin,” which is bioinactive) may cause hyperprolactinemia that is not associated with any clinical manifestations. A high or unexpectedly low prolactin level must be interpreted carefully in the context of possible causes of such levels.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Madhusmita Misra

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  1. Madhusmita Misra
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Correspondence to Madhusmita Misra .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Takara Stanley

  2. Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Madhusmita Misra

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Misra, M. (2021). Prolactin. In: Stanley, T., Misra, M. (eds) Endocrine Conditions in Pediatrics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-52215-5_33

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-52215-5_33

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-52214-8

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