Abstract
Hyperprolactinemia occasionally can be found in children with primary hypothyroidism, most likely due to TRH stimulation of pituitary lactotrophs. We measured TSH and prolactin levels in 33 blood samples from 8 primary hypo, 2 hyper, and 9 euthyroid full term infants up to 9 months of age. There was a significant correlation between serum TSH and prolactin levels: prolactin (ng/ml) = 31.1 + 0.7 TSH (μU/ml) [r =0.84]. Furthermore, prior to therapy, the hypothyroid babies, all less than 5 weeks of age, had marked elevations (p <.005) in serum prolactin levels compared to age-matched controls. Results are expressed as mean ± S.E.M.
Prolactin levels declined in parallel with TSH levels upon thyroid replacement.
Since prolactin affects mammalian salt and water metabolism, even in neonates (Ped Res 17:665, 1983), enormous elevations of this hormone may explain in part the edema occasionally observed in congenital hypothyroidism.
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McCormick, K., Shea, M. HYPERPROLACTINEMIA IN CONGENITAL HYPOTHYROIDISM. Pediatr Res 18 (Suppl 4), 171 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-00470
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-00470
