Androgen suppression and clinical improvement with dopamine agonists in hyperandrogenic-hyperprolactinemic women.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of dopamine agonist (DA) treatment on clinical and biochemical features in hirsute, hyperprolactinemic (HPRL) women and the relationship between prolactin (PRL) and androgens.

STUDY DESIGN: We evaluated 80 hirsute HPRL women (age, 27 +/- 1 years [mean +/- SE]) with neuroleptic treatment, prolactinoma and idiopathic HPRL (12, 13 and 55, respectively). DA, mainly bromocriptine, was administered for 11 +/- 1 months. Response indicators were Ferriman-Gallwey hirsutism (FGS) and Leeds acne (LAS) scores, circulating PRL, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), free and total testosterone, and androstenedione.

RESULTS: Baseline PRL correlated positively with DHEAS (r = .23, P = .03) and free testosterone (r = .36, P < .001). In all women, FGS, LAS, PRL, free testosterone, DHEAS and androstenedione decreased by 40-85% during DA treatment (P < .001). The decline in free testosterone was higher when PRL was > or = 65 ng/mL than when PRL was < 65 (P = .03) and correlated positively with basal DHEAS (r = .40, P < .001).

CONCLUSION: Our data suggest a modulation by PRL of adrenal androgen production. DA treatment reduces PRL and serum androgens. It results in a significant clinical improvement in acne and hirsutism. Therefore, DA is recommended as monotherapy for hyperandrogenic.