[A study on bone metabolism in woman with hyperprolactinemia].

We studied bone metabolism in hyperprolactinemia in 21 hyperprolactinemic women, and compared it with 57 normal subjects. Second to fourth lumbar bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The mean BMD (g/cm2) in hyperprolactinemic women was 9% less than in normal subjects (0.940 +/- 0.115 (SD) vs. 1.030 +/- 0.106, p < 0.05). A negative correlation was found between BMD and the duration of hyperprolactinemia. The analysis of bone metabolic parameters, bone turnover, bone formation and bone absorption showed that they increase in the hyperprolactinemic state. The main mechanism of BMD loss in hyperprolactinemia is probably due to hypoestrogenemia, but a direct effect of prolactin cannot be excluded.