Treatment of pituitary macroadenomas secreting PRL, HGH or ACTH with long-acting bromocriptine

• Published in: Journal of endocrinological investigation Vol. 10; no. 3; pp. 277 - 282
• Main Authors: HALPERIN, I, RODRIGUEZ, M. D, CARDENAL, C, CASAMITJANA, R, MARTINEZ OSABA, M. J, LIENAS, V, VILARDELL, E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Milano Kurtis 01-06-1987
• Subjects: Acromegaly - drug therapy; Acromegaly - metabolism; Adenoma - diagnostic imaging; Adenoma - drug therapy; Adenoma - secretion; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone - secretion; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Bromocriptine - therapeutic use; Delayed-Action Preparations; Female; Growth Hormone - secretion; Hormones. Endocrine system; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Nelson Syndrome - drug therapy; Nelson Syndrome - metabolism; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Pituitary Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Pituitary Neoplasms - drug therapy; Pituitary Neoplasms - secretion; Prolactin - secretion; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Bromocryptine; Endocrinopathy; Human; Controlled release form; STH; Cushing syndrome; ACTH; Acromegaly; Adenoma; Nelson syndrome; Secretory tumor; Prolactinoma; Chemotherapy; Treatment; Prolactin; Dopamine agonist; Hypophysoadrenal axis; Pituitary gland; Tumor
• ISSN: 0391-4097; 1720-8386
• DOI: 10.1007/BF03348130

Long-acting im bromocriptine was administered to 7 patients with pituitary macroadenomas (4 acromegalics, 1 Nelson's syndrome and 2 prolactinomas), with good tolerance except during the first 24 h. During a 42-day period hormonal, CT-scan and visual field variations were followed. In acromegalics HGH decrease was not evident, except in some isolated sample. In Nelson's syndrome ACTH showed a 94% fall on day 14, even though a spontaneous oscillation cannot be ruled out, and recovery took place from day 21 on. PRL remained undetectable in both. In prolactinomas, PRL suffered a great decrease (91.8% and 96.3% on days 21 and 28 respectively) and remained well below its initial values up to the end of the study, in spite of partial recovery. In these 2 patients CT-scan evidenced shrinkage of tumor mass, which was not observed in the remaining 5 cases. Visual fields did not improve in the 2 cases initially affected (Nelson's syndrome and 1 prolactinoma). Long-acting bromocriptine seems to have the same therapeutic uses of the oral form with the possible advantage of a better tolerance of full initial doses.