NORMAL GROWTH AND PUBERTAL DEVELOPMENT DURING BROMOCRIPTINE TREATMENT FOR A PROLACTIN-SECRETING PITUITARY MACROADENOMA

An 11-year-old male presented with a 2-year history of headache and lethargy. Serum PRL was elevated at 14,000 mU/l and computerized tomography showed a pituitary macroadenoma. Visual fields and fundi were normal and the testes showed early pubertal changes. There was normal responsiveness of serum cortisol but absence of GH response to hypoglycaemia. After bromocriptine therapy for 4 months serum PRL had fallen to 90 mU/l and the tumour was not visible on repeat computerized tomography. After 7 months treatment, repeat pituitary function testing showed restoration of GH response to hypoglycaemia. Treatment with bromocriptine was continued and there was spontaneous progression of normal puberty; the serum testosterone continued to rise, and height maintained the 50th centile. Bromocriptine therapy should be considered as initial therapy in the management of prolactinomas in prepubertal patients.