ALDOSTERONE RESPONSE TO METOCLOPRAMIDE IN PATIENTS WITH PROLACTINOMA - EFFECT OF SHORT-TERM BROMOCRIPTINE TREATMENT

The acute effect of 10 mg metoclopramide i.v. on prolactin and aldoste rone levels was studied in 8 women with prolactinoma and 8 normal wome n. The prolactin response to metoclopramide was blunted in hyperprolac tinemic patients in comparison with controls. Metoclopramide induced s imilar aldosterone increases in patients and controls, but hyperprolac tinemic women showed a more sustained aldosterone response. Bromocript ine treatment (10 mg daily p.o. for 5 days) in patients with prolactin oma completely suppressed the prolactin response to metoclopramide and the aldosterone response curve was very similar to that of controls. The results did not exclude some degree of suppression of aldosterone in response to bromocriptine.