Pituitary apoplexy following chlorpromazine stimulation

Arch Intern Med. 1978 Nov;138(11):1738-9.

Abstract

Chlorpromazine is frequently administered to patients with hyperprolactinemia to stimulate an increase in the serum levels of prolactin. A patient with a prolactin secreting adenoma is described in whom pituitary apoplexy developed in association with a hypotensive episode following the administration of 25 mg of chlorpromazine. Prolactin levels fell from more than 2,000 ng/ml to 340 ng/ml following infarction of the pituitary tumor. Pituitary apoplexy should be considered as a rare complication of chlorpromazine stimulation in a patient with a pituitary tumor.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenoma, Chromophobe / diagnosis
  • Adenoma, Chromophobe / metabolism
  • Adenoma, Chromophobe / pathology
  • Adult
  • Chlorpromazine / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Hypotension / chemically induced*
  • Hypotension / complications
  • Male
  • Pituitary Diseases / chemically induced*
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / pathology
  • Prolactin / blood
  • Prolactin / metabolism

Substances

  • Prolactin
  • Chlorpromazine