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Dose-Related Prolactin Inhibitory Effect of the New Long-Acting Dopamine Receptor Agonist Cabergoline in Normal Cycling, Puerperal, and Hyperprolactinemic Women^*

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pisa, Pisa; and Farmitalia Carlo Erba, Medical Division, (P.B.) Milan, Italy

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dr. G. B. Melis, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pisa, via Roma 67, 56100 Pisa, Italy.

Two different single doses (400 and 600 µg) of the new long-acting dopamine agonist cabergoline (CBG) were given to 12 normal cycling women, 17 puerperal women, and 24 hyperprolactinemic women (12 with idiopathic hyperprolactinemia and 12 with pituitary adenoma). Plasma PRL was determined in blood samples collected before and at frequent intervals for 5 days after CBG administration. Both CBG doses induced marked inhibition of PRL secretion in all women. A decrease in plasma PRL levels was evident 1–2 h after CBG administration and persisted for up to 5 days. The 600-µg CBG dose had a more potent (P < 0.05) PRL inhibitory effect than the 400-µg dose in normal, puerperal, and hyperprolactinemic women. Moreover, while 400 µg CBG prevented lactation in 3 of 7 puerperal women, 600 fig CBG prevented lactation in 5 of 5 puerperal women. A moderate blood pressure decrease occurred 3–6 h after CBG treatment, but no other side-effects occurred. These results demonstrate that CBG induces a dose-related inhibition of PRL secretion in normal women as well as in puerperal and hyper-prolactinemic women. The potent long-lasting PRL inhibitory effect of CBG in conjunction with the absence of side-effects typical of dopaminergic compounds suggest that this drug is an advance in the medical treatment of hyperprolactinemia.

^* This work was supported in part by the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (C.N.R.), Rome, Italy (Grants 86.00531.04 and 86.01787.56).

Received January 29, 1987.

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