Persistent Idiopathic Prolactin Elevation Merits Macroprolactin Estimation: A Case Report and Review of Literature.
- Department of Endocrinology, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
- Department of Reproductive Medicine Unit, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
Journal of human reproductive sciences Vol. 14 · Issue 2 · pp. 206-210
PMID 34316240 DOI 10.4103/jhrs.jhrs_168_20
Cite This Article
Krishnaprabha Gautam, Kripa Elizabeth Cherian, Arun Jose, T K Aleyamma, Nitin Kapoor, Thomas Vizhalil Paul. Persistent Idiopathic Prolactin Elevation Merits Macroprolactin Estimation: A Case Report and Review of Literature. Journal of human reproductive sciences. 2021;14(2):206-210. doi:10.4103/jhrs.jhrs_168_20
Abstract
The prevalence of hyperprolactinemia ranges from about 0.4% in an unselected adult population to as high as 9%-17% in women with reproductive disorders. It may cause infertility in about 11% of the oligospermic males. Rarely, the cause of persistently elevated prolactin remains obscure even after thorough work up. Macroprolactinemia is biologically inactive, high-molecular-weight form of prolactin resulting from its binding to immunoglobulin G, causing a decrease in its clearance. We report the case of a 35-year-old female, detected to have hyperprolactinemia on multiple tests, during routine work up for primary infertility. Secondary causes for the same were ruled out. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain excluded a prolactinoma. This prompted an estimation of prolactin levels after polyethylene glycol precipitation which showed a decrease to 5.58 ng/mL, with
Keywords
- Hyperprolactinemia
- macroprolactin
- polyethylene glycol precipitation




