Role of prolactin in age-related change in serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate concentrations

Serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate concentrations were measured in 70 patients with prolactinoma and in 54 patients with acromegaly with normal adrenocortical function. Compared with values in normal subjects of corresponding age, serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate levels were increased in 22 patients with prolactinoma (31%) and in 5 patients with acromegaly (9%). The four acromegalic patients who had elevated serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate levels had hyperprolactinemia. The mean serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate concentrations in patients with prolactinoma in each decade decreased with advancing age. There was a significant negative correlation between serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate concentrations and ages of the patients with prolactinoma. In all 8 women with prolactinoma as in 6 normal women, serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate levels declined definitely during the 9 years of follow-up despite persistent hyperprolactinemia. These results indicate that serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate levels are increased in a substantial number of patients with hyperprolactinemia, however, PRL per se may not play a significant role in the age-related change in serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate levels.