TREATMENT WITH LONG-ACTING REPEATABLE BROMOCRIPTINE (PARLODEL-LAR-ASTERISK) IN PATIENTS WITH MACROPROLACTINOMAS - LONG-TERM STUDY IN 29 PATIENTS

The aim of the study was to evaluate the short term and long-term effe cts of long acting repeatable bromocriptine (=Parlodel-LAR) in patien ts with macroprolactinomas. Twenty-nine patients (15 men and 14 women) aged 42+/-2.7 (M+/-SEM) years were injected with Parlodel-LAR every 4 weeks during 3.3+/-0.3 years. The starting dose was 50 mg/injection, then it was increased to 100 mg in 11 patients and 150 mg in 9 patien ts. PRL levels decreased in all but one patient 4 weeks after the firs t injection (270+/-59 vs 934+/-210 ng/ml, p <0.001), then became less than 20 ng/ml in 20/29 (69%) patients and finally became undetectable or low in 13/29 (45%) patients. Visual field defects were present in 1 2/29 patients before treatment. In 11/12 patients, treatment with Parl odel-LAR resulted in an improvement and complete correction of visual field defects was observed in 8/12 patients, Adenoma size (2.5+/-0.2 cm before treatment) was reduced by at least 20% in 24/29 (83%) patien ts. Disappearance of adenoma was observed on CT scan in 8/29 (28%) pat ients after 28.7+/-5.3 months of treatment. Minor side effects occurre d in 20 patients after the first injection then disappeared in 18 pati ents within the following 6 months of treatment. One patient had rhino rrhea after 3 months of treatment, Treatment with Parlodel-LAR result s in beneficial short-term effects (with rapid correction of recent on set visual field defects) and long-term effects (which can include com plete disappearance of adenoma on CT scan evaluation) in patients with macroprolactinomas.