Plasma prolactin and severe premenstrual tension.

It has been suggested that elevated luteal phase prolactin (PRL) levels may have an important role in causing some of the symptoms of the premenstrual tension syndrome (PMTS). Thirty-seven women suffering from severe premenstrual dysphoria were selected for this study. Single morning and afternoon serum PRL evaluations were performed during the follicular (day 9) and late luteal (day 26) phases of the menstrual cycle. PRL was measured by an established double antibody radioimmunoassay technique. All mean PRL values were within the normal range. Only afternoon mean PRL levels showed a tendency for a premenstrual increase. The significance of this statistical finding is unclear, since one-third of the subjects showed a decrease in premenstrual PRL levels. Twenty-four hour PRL secretory profiles recorded on days 9 and 26 in two women with extremely severe PMTS and in two asymptomatic matched control subjects also failed to show a significant correlation between PRL levels and PMTS. Thirty subjects participated in a treatment trial using bromocriptine. A marked rebound hyperprolactinemia was observed in a subgroup of women nine days after cessation of bromocriptine. This was associated with no detectable effect on mood, behavior, or menstrual regularity. Thus, our data fail to show any specific relationship between PRL and PMTS.