Body fat in nonobese women with prolactinoma treated with dopamine agonists

• Published in: Clinical endocrinology (Oxford) 2007-12, Vol.67 (6), p.845-852
• Main Authors: Naliato, Erika C. O., Violante, Alice H. D., Caldas, Dayse, Filho, Adilson Lamounier, Loureiro, Christiane R., Fontes, Rosita, Schrank, Yolanda, Souza, Rodrigo G., Costa, Patricia L. M., Colao, Annamaria
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Absorptiometry, Photon; Adipose Tissue - physiology; Adolescent; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dopamine Agonists - therapeutic use; Endocrinopathies; Female; Follicle Stimulating Hormone - blood; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Growth Hormone - blood; Humans; Hypothalamus. Hypophysis. Epiphysis (diseases); Insulin-Like Growth Factor I - metabolism; Luteinizing Hormone - blood; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Non tumoral diseases. Target tissue resistance. Benign neoplasms; Obesity - metabolism; Prolactin - blood; Prolactinoma - blood; Prolactinoma - drug therapy; Prolactinoma - metabolism; Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin - metabolism; Thyrotropin - blood; Vertebrates: endocrinology; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0300-0664; 1365-2265
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2265.2007.02973.x

Summary Objectives  To evaluate body fat in nonobese women with prolactinoma treated with dopamine agonists, using whole body dual energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) and to correlate DXA results with biochemical data and clinical aspects of the prolactinoma. Design, patients and measurements  A cross‐sectional study was performed in two University referral centres. Thirty‐one nonobese premenopausal women with prolactinoma were subjected to DXA and blood analysis at clinical evaluation. They were compared with 21 control women of similar age and body mass index (BMI). Results  Women with prolactinoma treated with dopamine agonists and controls had similar body fat percentages in all sites evaluated with DXA (arms, legs, trunk, android, gynoid and total body). Patients with normal PRL levels at study entry had lower body fat percentages in all sites. In the patient group, arm, leg, truncal, android, gynoid and total body fat were positively associated with PRL levels. Conclusion  Body fat percentage is similar in nonobese women with prolactinoma and in controls. The lower body fat content in patients with normal PRL levels is likely to be due to the metabolic effects of adequate dopamine receptor type 2 (DR2) activation as a result of regular dopamine agonist treatment. This finding reinforces the importance of the appropriate treatment with dopamine agonists in women with prolactinoma, which, besides normalizing PRL levels, reduces body fat content and the consequent risk of developing Metabolic Syndrome and its complications.