Detection Macroprolactinemia by PEG Precipitation in Patients with Hyperprolactinaemia: A Prospective, case-controlled study

摘要

Measurement of prolactin is one of the most commonly undertaken hormonal investigations in evaluating patients with reproductive disorders. Hyperprolactinemia is found in up to 17% of such cases. Prolactin (PRL) in human serum is present in three species: monomeric PRL (23 kDA), big PRL (50-60 kDa) and big, big PRL (bb-PRL or macroprolactinemia) of 150-170 kDa. Macroprolactin seems to be mainly composed of a molecule of monomeric PRL and an immunoglobulin G anti PRL. A major challenge facing laboratories is correct differentiation of patients with true hyperprolactinemia from those with macroprolactinemia. Macroprolactin is a high-molecular-mass, biologically inactive form of prolactin that is detected to varying degrees by all prolactin immunoassays. Our aim was to determine the prevalence of patients with macroprolactinemia in an endocrinology practice.