Avalia？？o plasmática de igf-1 no prolactinoma

prolactinomas are the most frequent pituitary tumors and may co-secrete gh (growth hormone). igf-1 (insulin-like growth factor-1) is the main responsible for gh actions and a parameter for the diagnosis of acromegaly. with the objective of identifying through a igf-1 levels analysis, in the initial evaluation of prolactinoma patients, the existence of mixed tumors [gh and prolactin (prl)], we studied 7 men and 27 women, aged between 19 and 72 years, confronting them with the results of basal and glucose stimulated (glucose tolerance test - gtt) gh levels, indicated when gh >0.4 ng/ml or igf-1 levels were elevated. the prevalence of patients with gh >0.4 ng/ml and elevated igf-1 was higher than expected; however, after gtt, no patient fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for acromegaly. however, we suggest that, they should be submitted to igf-1 evaluation, due to the risk of gh co-secretion in prolactinomas. special attention should be paid to those who present a significant decrease of prl levels without concomitant tumor size reduction.