What Causes Elevated Prolactin Levels?

Posted on Fri, 12 Sep 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 12 Sep 2014 Answered on

Mon, 6 Oct 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : My 11 years old son have S.prolactin level 21 & S.Alk.Phosphatase level 421
Rest test are within normal limit
is it normal or somthing wrong
guide to me .I feel his genital is somewhat little and breast enlargement(gynecomastia)

Answered by Dr. Arun (50 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
needs further evaluation

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for writing to us.

Prolactin level can be raised due to some drugs like risperidone, etc. If your child is not on any medications, this prolactin level could indicate swelling of pituitary gland.

Gynecomastia can be one ofthe symptoms of prolactinoma which is a swelling of pituitary gland
Alkaline phosphatase can be elevated in multiple conditions like vitamin d deficiency, liver, kidney , drugs, infections, etc.

I would suggest you to get him evaluated further to rule out these conditions, predominantly pituitary issue .
MRI brain should be the next step.
Discuss in detail with your doctor and proceed further.

Regards
Dr Arun

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Arun (29 minutes later)

MRI of brain is normal .Vitamin D level is 14 .what will be the other causes of raised prolactin

Answered by Dr. Arun (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
see below

Detailed Answer:
Other causes include
Stress, trauma, hypothyroidism, marijuana use, drugs like mentioned earlier.
If all these are normal, repeat prolactin levels in a month to see if it was only a transient rise which can happen sometimes in growing kids.
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj