Introduction: Cabergoline (CAB) is the most used dopamine agonist in the treatment of prolactinomas. Studies related to the treatment of Parkinson's disease have shown that dopamine agonists can lead to fibrotic syndromes affecting the heart and the lung. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible pulmonary side effects of CAB in prolactinoma patients.
Material and methods: Chest X-ray imaging and pulmonary function parameters like forced vital capacity (FVC), total lung capacity (TLC), and diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) were evaluated in 73 prolactinoma patients. The cumulative dose of CAB and the total duration of CAB use were also calculated, and all data were reviewed retrospectively.
Results: The median cumulative CAB dose was 192 mg, and the median duration of CAB use was 64 months. Only 13 patients (17%) among this cohort had abnormal DLCO results that could be an indirect sign of pulmonary fibrosis. These abnormal DLCO results were found not to be associated with cumulative CAB dose in these 13 patients.
Conclusions: CAB appears to be safe in terms of pulmonary functions with a median cumulative dose of 192 mg in prolactinoma patients.
Keywords: cabergoline; dopamine agonist; pleural fibrosis; prolactinoma; pulmonary fibrosis.