SUPPRESSION OF SERUM PROLACTIN LEVELS AFTER AN ORAL GLUCOSE-TOLERANCETEST IN PATIENTS WITH POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN SYNDROME

In order to assess if an oral glucose load has any effect on serum pro lactin levels in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), an or al glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed in 30 patients with PCO S and 20 controls, with normal or abnormal body mass index (BMI). OGTT resulted in decreased prolactin levels, being significant only in pat ients with PCOS and in controls with normal BMI. Our results show that obesity is an important inhibiting factor of serum prolactin level su ppression which occurs with a mild suppressive test, as the OGTT; howe ver, hyperandrogenemia may also play an inhibiting role in serum prola ctin level suppression.