Treatment of hyperprolactinaemia reduces total cholesterol and LDL in patients with prolactinomas.

Article Details

Citation

Schwetz V, Librizzi R, Trummer C, Theiler G, Stiegler C, Pieber TR, Obermayer-Pietsch B, Pilz S

Treatment of hyperprolactinaemia reduces total cholesterol and LDL in patients with prolactinomas.

Metab Brain Dis. 2017 Feb;32(1):155-161. doi: 10.1007/s11011-016-9882-2. Epub 2016 Aug 15.

PubMed ID
27525431 [ View in PubMed
]
Abstract

Previous studies suggest that hyperprolactinaemia might have adverse effects on lipid and glucose metabolism. We therefore aimed to evaluate whether dopamine agonist treatment with cabergoline has significant effects on blood lipids, fasting glucose and HbA1c levels in patients with micro- or macroprolactinoma. In this retrospective observational study the main outcome measures are changes in parameters of glucose and lipid metabolism compared at hyperprolactinaemia and after achievement of normoprolactinaemia by cabergoline treatment. We enrolled 53 study participants (22 females; median [interquartile range] age: 40.0 [27.5 to 50.0] years), 22 (41.5 %) with micro-, and 31 (58.5 %) with macroprolactinomas. After a median follow-up of 9 months, prolactin levels decreased from 220.6 (80.7-913.4) to 11.2 (3.5-18.7) ng/mL (p < 0.001). There was a significant decrease in median levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) from 121.6 (+/-39.4) to 110.6 mg/dl (+/-37.6, p = 0.005) and total cholesterol from 191 (168.5-241) to 181 mg/dl (162-217, p < 0.001), but no change in high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides, fasting glucose and HbA1c. We observed a significant increase in testosterone in men and in oestradiol in women. In linear regression analyses using the change in total cholesterol or LDL as dependent, and the change in prolactin, oestradiol, and testosterone as independent variables, no significant predictor of the change in total cholesterol or LDL was identified. In patients with prolactinomas, normalisation of elevated prolactin levels by cabergoline treatment was accompanied by significant reductions in LDL and total cholesterol. Further studies are warranted to confirm our findings and to evaluate the clinical implications of lipid levels in the monitoring and treatment of patients with prolactinomas.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Pharmaco-metabolomics
DrugDrug GroupsMetaboliteChangeDescription
CabergolineApprovedLDL cholesterol
decreased
Cabergoline decreases the level of LDL cholesterol in the blood
CabergolineApprovedTestosterone
increased
Cabergoline increases the level of Testosterone in the blood
CabergolineApprovedOestradiol
increased
Cabergoline increases the level of Oestradiol in the blood
CabergolineApprovedTotal cholesterol
decreased
Cabergoline decreases the level of Total cholesterol in the blood