Pregnancy and Tumor Outcomes in Women with Prolactinoma

Abstract

Abstract Context Management of prolactinomas during pregnancy has always been a challenge. There is a concern about the risk of tumor growth, as well as the effects of the treatment on the developing fetus. Another issue that has been less studied is the outcome of women with prolactinoma after pregnancy and lactation. Objectives To evaluate remission of hyperprolactinaemia after pregnancy and lactation in women with prolactinoma. To describe the safety of dopamine agonists for the fetus and pregnancy outcomes. Methods A retrospective study of 32 pregnancies in women with prolactinoma was conducted in a single-centre. Other causes of hyperprolactinemia were excluded. Prolactin level was recorded at the time of diagnosis, during treatment, and during follow-up. Results The pregnancies resulted in one spontaneous abortion (3.1%) and 31 live births (96.9%). No stillbirths, multiple or ectopic pregnancies or trophoblastic disease were recorded. There was only one malformation (club foot) recorded (3.1%) and normalisation of prolactin after pregnancy without medical treatment occurred in 12% of patients. Conclusions Fetal exposure to bromocriptine or cabergoline during pregnancy is not associated with an increased risk of adverse neonatal or pregnancy disclosures. There is considerable diversity among endocrinologists in the management of prolactinomas during pregnancy and after birth, which indicates that there is a need for better consensus and for carefully drawn-up guidelines to follow.