Prolactin

The reference ranges for prolactin in females is as follows: ^[1]

• Adult female: 3-27 ng/mL

• Pregnant female: 20-400 ng/mL

The reference range for prolactin in adult males is 3-13 ng/mL. ^[1]

Hyperprolactinemia is associated primarily with prolactin-secreting pituitary tumors (prolactinoma).

Conditions associated with prolactin deficiency include anterior pituitary dysfunction secondary to the following:

• Postpartum pituitary necrosis (Sheehan syndrome)

• Pituitary tumor

• Extrapituitary tumor

• Treatment of pituitary/extrapituitary tumor

• Parasellar disease

• Head injury

• Infection (eg, tuberculosis, histoplasmosis)

• Infiltrative disease (eg, sarcoidosis, hemochromatosis)

Specifics for collection and panels are as follows:

• Specimen type: Blood serum

• Container: Vacutainer, red/black top

• Collection method: Venipuncture

• Specimen volume: 0.6 mL

• Other instructions: Collect specimen within 3-4 hours of awakening

Related tests are as follows:

• Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)

• Luteinizing hormone (LH)

• Testosterone

• Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)

• Estrogen

• Progesterone

• Growth hormone

Description

Prolactin is pituitary hormone that stimulates breast development and milk production in women. Prolactin has no known normal function in men. ^{[2, 3, 4, 5]}

An image depicting prolactin can be seen below.

Indications/Applications

Indications for testing of serum prolactin include the following:

• Evaluation of galactorrhea

• Evaluation of headache and visual field deficits

• Evaluation of pituitary tumors

• Evaluation of male and female infertility

• Evaluation of amenorrhea/oligomenorrhea

• Evaluation of erectile dysfunction

• Evaluation of hypogonadism

• Monitoring therapy of prolactinoma and detecting recurrences

Considerations

Hyperprolactinemia may also be associated with the following:

• Anorexia nervosa

• Breast stimulation (transient)

• Hypothyroidism

• Polycystic ovarian syndrome

• Renal disease

Hyperprolactinemia may also be associated with the following drugs:

• Estrogen

• Tricyclic antidepressants

• Opiates

• Amphetamines

• Reserpine

• Verapamil

• Methyldopa

• Butyrophenones

• H2 blockers

• Metoclopramide

• Phenothiazines

• Risperidone