Examples include: association of prolactinomas with paternal deprivation and with stressful life events; pseudocyesis; acute life event-driven episodes of galactorrhea; episodes of rapid weight gain following a life event; prolactin surges (without associated cortisol surges) following some psychological stresses.
Patients with stalk effect were more likely than those with normal serum prolactin levels to present with menstrual dysfunction (29.7% vs. 19.4%; P < 0.01) and galactorrhea (11.1% vs. 2.1%; P < 0.01).
(1) Seven out of 11 patients in group 1 had galactorrhoea, menstrual disturbances or both; (2) the ratio Nb2 BA/RIA in whole serum was similar to the ratio found in group 2 patients; (3) the ratios Nb2 BA/RIA and Nb2 BA/IRMA in the BB-PRL fractions obtained after gel filtration were significantly lower than in whole serum (P < 0.003); (4) in group 1 patients, RIA estimates of PRL did not correlate either with Nb2 BA or with IRMA, while Nb2 BA and IRMA were correlated.
Mean basal levels of PRL were significantly elevated in nursing women (P less than 0.01) compared to those in nonlactating postpartum women and women with galactorrhea.