Retrospective Analysis of Cushing’s Disease with or without Hyperprolactinemia

Objective. We compared the characteristics of patients with Cushing’s disease alone with those of patients with Cushing’s disease and hyperprolactinemia.Methods. Eighty-four patients were enrolled between 2002 and 2011, in a hospital in China. Clinical, endocrinological, and histopathological data, MRI scans, and surgical outcomes were reviewed throughout the follow-up period.Results. Patients with Cushing’s disease and hyperprolactinemia had a younger age at diagnosis (30.28 ± 14.23 versus 36.08 ± 10.91 years;P=0.037) and a larger adenoma maximal diameter (2.44 ± 1.32 versus 1.44 ± 1.05 cm;P<0.001) than patients with Cushing’s disease alone. Menstrual disorders (P=0.027) and visual field defects (P=0.021) were more common and progressive obesity (P=0.009) and hypertension (P<0.001) were less common in patients with Cushing’s disease and hyperprolactinemia. The rate of normalization of hormonal levels was lower (41.7% versus 91.7%;P<0.001) and the recurrence rate was higher (36.1% versus 8.3%;P<0.001) in patients with Cushing’s disease and hyperprolactinemia.Conclusions. Careful long-term follow-up is needed of patients with Cushing’s disease and hyperprolactinemia.