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Suggest Treatment For Elevated LDL And Prolactin Levels
Question: If a person has, in mid twenties, has elevated LDL, prolactin, triglycerides, and an MRI showing upper portion of pituitary flattened w/height of 0.9 cm, what does this indicate? In addition, there is, via a sonogram, a nodule on one side of the thyroid; is this caused by pituitary w/possibility of cancer? My late father died of prostate caner and was only able to have one child, me, w/help of clomid. Is it possible that he passed on a genetically defective gene which effected the pituitary? Am I at risk for cancer or heart disease? I also have polycystic ovary disease. I am at a loss as my current endocrinologist only thought of the thyroid and it was my mother who thought of the HPA axis. Please lend your thoughts. I would certainly appreciate any advice. BTW, I am always tired and have insomnia but I also suffer w/great pain due to a connective tissue disorder, Ehlers Danlos syndrome, which I inherited from my mother. Not a great gene pool but fantastic, highly intelligent and loving parents.
I forgot to mention medications. I am on many prescribed NSAIDs and low dose opioid and Tylenol 3 and migraine medicine. I also forgot to mention that I have BAVD (Bicuspid Valve Disorder) and mitral valve prolapse w/mild regurgitation. I suffer w/many ligament tears and subluxations and dislocations. I have recently found out that I have a subluxation between the 5th and 6th cervical vertebrae. I bruise quite easily and sometimes severely for no reason. I sometimes suffer w/tremendous pressure in my head. I lost my hearing on one side and I have slight straightening of the neck w/osteophytes. Much of this has to do w/Ehlers Danlos but I wonder if having a high prolactin levels, high LDL, and triglycerides is making my condition worse. Also, my late father had diabetes; would this have been due to a pituitary problem?
Hope this information helps you to have a clearer picture and to be able to advise me more succinctly.
Thank you,
XXXX
I forgot to mention medications. I am on many prescribed NSAIDs and low dose opioid and Tylenol 3 and migraine medicine. I also forgot to mention that I have BAVD (Bicuspid Valve Disorder) and mitral valve prolapse w/mild regurgitation. I suffer w/many ligament tears and subluxations and dislocations. I have recently found out that I have a subluxation between the 5th and 6th cervical vertebrae. I bruise quite easily and sometimes severely for no reason. I sometimes suffer w/tremendous pressure in my head. I lost my hearing on one side and I have slight straightening of the neck w/osteophytes. Much of this has to do w/Ehlers Danlos but I wonder if having a high prolactin levels, high LDL, and triglycerides is making my condition worse. Also, my late father had diabetes; would this have been due to a pituitary problem?
Hope this information helps you to have a clearer picture and to be able to advise me more succinctly.
Thank you,
XXXX
Brief Answer:
Hormone related conditions
Detailed Answer:
Sorry to learn about your bothersome symptoms.
1 LDL, Prolactin can rise due to an inadequately functioning thyroid gland
2 The flattened pituitary on MRI has to be interpreted strictly in light of abnormal clues on physical examination and laboratory testing
3 Generally the risk of thyroid cancer in a nodule is about 5to 8 %
A systematic evaluation is necessary to guide further management plans. This entails a physical examination first
4 To my knowledge there is no common gene that elevates the risk of prostate and thyroid cancer or pituitary problems
5 Anyone who has has raised LDL is at risk for heart disease. Treating it should lower that risk significantly.
Regarding your risk for thyroid cancer, I have given you average estimates above
6 Opioids can raise prolactin too
7 It is extremely unlikely the LDL triglycerides and prolactin are worsening your Ehler-Danlos
8 Your fathers diabetes could have been caused by pituitary problems such as Acromegaly and Cushing's disease but these are quite uncommon
When I see someone like you in my practice, I typically order the following blood tests in addition to a detailed physical examination:
CBC (Complete Blood Count, also known as Hemogram; includes Hemoglobin, WBC and Platelet counts)
Electrolytes (Sodium and Potassium in particular)
HbA1c (Glycosylated Hemoglobin = your last 3 months' glucose average). Also known by other names such as GlycoHemoglobin or Glycated Hemoglobin or A1c
Liver function tests (SGOT , SGPT, Albumin, Bilirubin, Alkaline Phosphatase)
Kidney function tests (BUN, Creatinine)
TSH (checks your thyroid)
Free T4 (this too checks your thyroid) Thyroid autoantibodies : Anti Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) antibodies and Anti Thyroglobulin antibodies
25 hydroxy Vitamin D levels (ideal range 40 to 60 ng/ml = 100 to 150 nmol/liter)
None of these tests require any fasting and can be done at any time of the day
Hormone related conditions
Detailed Answer:
Sorry to learn about your bothersome symptoms.
1 LDL, Prolactin can rise due to an inadequately functioning thyroid gland
2 The flattened pituitary on MRI has to be interpreted strictly in light of abnormal clues on physical examination and laboratory testing
3 Generally the risk of thyroid cancer in a nodule is about 5to 8 %
A systematic evaluation is necessary to guide further management plans. This entails a physical examination first
4 To my knowledge there is no common gene that elevates the risk of prostate and thyroid cancer or pituitary problems
5 Anyone who has has raised LDL is at risk for heart disease. Treating it should lower that risk significantly.
Regarding your risk for thyroid cancer, I have given you average estimates above
6 Opioids can raise prolactin too
7 It is extremely unlikely the LDL triglycerides and prolactin are worsening your Ehler-Danlos
8 Your fathers diabetes could have been caused by pituitary problems such as Acromegaly and Cushing's disease but these are quite uncommon
When I see someone like you in my practice, I typically order the following blood tests in addition to a detailed physical examination:
CBC (Complete Blood Count, also known as Hemogram; includes Hemoglobin, WBC and Platelet counts)
Electrolytes (Sodium and Potassium in particular)
HbA1c (Glycosylated Hemoglobin = your last 3 months' glucose average). Also known by other names such as GlycoHemoglobin or Glycated Hemoglobin or A1c
Liver function tests (SGOT , SGPT, Albumin, Bilirubin, Alkaline Phosphatase)
Kidney function tests (BUN, Creatinine)
TSH (checks your thyroid)
Free T4 (this too checks your thyroid) Thyroid autoantibodies : Anti Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) antibodies and Anti Thyroglobulin antibodies
25 hydroxy Vitamin D levels (ideal range 40 to 60 ng/ml = 100 to 150 nmol/liter)
None of these tests require any fasting and can be done at any time of the day
Note: For detailed guidance on genetic screening consult a genetics specialist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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