SERUM PROLACTIN

The secretion of prolactin is in a pulsed- wave mode. It reaches a secretion peak after falling asleep and maintains a high level during the sleep, while falls down when waken up; Highly elevated level of prolactin is called hyperprolactinemia, a dysfunction of the system consisted of hypothalamus, pituitary gland and gonads. The major symptoms of hyperprolactinemia are galactorrhea, spano-menstruation or even menorrhea in women and also impotence, infertility in men. The quantification of prolactin levels is of interest in evaluation and management of patients with hyperprolactinemia, such as galactorrhea and menorrhea. Various factors have been found to influence prolactin levels, such as severe physical activities, stimulations, drugs that interfere with the metabolism or activities of dopamine, such as reserpine. In addition, constitutional deterioration of function of thyroid gland, renal failure can also increase prolactin levels.