Comprehensive etiological assessment of patients presenting with hyperprolactinemia in a tertiary care hospital

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the etiology of hyperprolactinemia and changing trend in patients presenting to endocrine department.

Methodology: This cross sectional (descriptive observational) study was conducted in Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic disease Hayatabad Medical complex, MTI Peshawar for 6 months duration from 25^th July 2025 to 25^th January 2026 on 93 patients selected through nonprobability consecutive sampling technique while keeping inclusion criteria in perspective. All the data collected through fulfilling of proformas was added to Microsoft excel sheet and transferred to SPSS version 23.0. for data analysis and verification. The results are illustrated in the form of description and Tables.

Results: Prolactin-secreting pituitary adenomas (prolactinomas) constituted the most frequently etiology (45.2%) followed by drug induced hyperprolactinemia (29%). Galactorrhea (39.8%), primary infertility (16.1%) and menstrual irregularities (14%) were the predominant presenting symptoms. There was a statistically significant association between gender and the underlying etiology of hyperprolactinemia (p < 0.05). Females were more likely to be diagnosed with prolactinomas and polycystic ovarian syndrome, while drug-induced hyperprolactinemia was observed across both genders. Prolactin level was significantly variable across different etiologies(p<0.001).

Conclusion: Prolactinomas remain the leading cause of hyperprolactinemia, followed by drugs induced hyperprolactinemia. Galactorrhea remained most frequent presenting complaint followed by primary infertility.