Prolactin in serum and anamnestic data of women with cystic disease of the breast (author's transl)

Abstract

78 women with cysts of the mammary gland--proved by aspiration of cystic fluid--had significantly more hyperprolactinaemia than 42 control-persons. Hyperprolactinaemia was twice as frequently found in 46 women with microscopic cystic disease--proved histological in biopsies--than in control-persons. On the average there was a moderate elevation of prolactin. Individual prolactin-levels were up to four or five times higher than normal. The comparison between prolactin and gynecologic data and anamnestic known endocrine and metabolic lesions was without significance. There was no relation between use of prolactin-stimulating drugs (psychopharmacas a.o.) and cystic disease of the breast. Patients with cystic disease used significantly less oral contraceptiva and more estrogens than control-persons. There was no familiar-genetic disposition significant. Our results show prolactin as an etiologic factor of (gross-) cystic breast disease.