This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by JACKSON, R. D. Articles by MALARKEY, W. B. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by JACKSON, R. D. Articles by MALARKEY, W. B.

Persistence of Large Molecular Weight Prolactin Secretion During Pregnancy in Women with Macroprolactinemia and its Presence in Fetal Cord Blood^*

R. D. JACKSON, J. WORTSMAN and W. B. MALARKEY

Department of Medicine, Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio 43210
The Department of Medicine, Southern Illinois University Springfield, Illinois 62794

Address requests for reprints to: Dr. William B. Malarkey, Department of Medicine, Ohio State University Hospital, 410 West 10th Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43210-1228.

Two hyperprolactinemic women with marked increases in circulating 150K PRL were studied from conception throughout pregnancy and delivery. The serum PRL increase during pregnancy in these women was considerably less than that in normal pregnant women (2- and 3.5-fold vs. 10- to 20- fold increases, respectively). The 150K PRL species persisted as the predominant circulating form of PRL throughout each trimester of pregnancy in these women. In contrast, the predominant form of PRL in serum from normal pregnant women was the 22K PRL form. Gel filtration analysis of the umbilical venous cord serum of infants of the macroprolactinemic women demonstrated excessive concentrations of 150K and 50K PRL compared to the molecular species of PRL in the cord serum of normal infants. Repeat analysis of the PRL species in one infant at age 3 yr continued to reveal excessive secretion of 150K PRL (11% vs. <6% in normals). These data suggest that genetic influences may be operative in determining PRL heterogeneity.

^* This work was supported in part by General Clinical Research Center Grant RR-34 from the NIH and NIH Grants CA-16058, PO1-MH-446600, and K11-HD-00772-01.

Recipient of a Clinical Associate Physican Award (NIH/GCRC RR-0034).

Received August 8, 1988.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. Vallette-Kasic, I. Morange-Ramos, A. Selim, G. Gunz, S. Morange, A. Enjalbert, P.-M. Martin, P. Jaquet, and T. Brue Macroprolactinemia Revisited: A Study on 106 Patients J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., February 1, 2002; 87(2): 581 - 588. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Pascoe-Lira, G. Duran-Reyes, I. Contreras-Hernández, L. Manuel-Apolinar, F. Blanco-Favela, and A. Leaños-Miranda Frequency of Macroprolactinemia Due to Autoantibodies against Prolactin in Pregnant Women J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., February 1, 2001; 86(2): 924 - 929. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				M. J. Diver, D. L. Ewins, R. C. Worth, S. Bowles, J. A. Ahlquist, and M. N. Fahie-Wilson An Unusual Form of Big, Big (Macro) Prolactin in a Pregnant Patient Clin. Chem., February 1, 2001; 47(2): 346 - 348. [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Hattori and C. Inagaki Anti-Prolactin (PRL) Autoantibodies Cause Asymptomatic Hyperprolactinemia: Bioassay and Clearance Studies of PRL-Immunoglobulin G Complex J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., September 1, 1997; 82(9): 3107 - 3110. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Wortsman and W. B. Malarkey Hyperthyroidism, Hyperprolactinemia, and Macroprolactinemia Ann Intern Med, February 15, 1990; 112(4): 309 - 309. [Abstract] [PDF]