Twenty-four-hour secretory patterns of gonadotropins and prolactin in a case of chiari-frommel syndrome

Plasma LH, FSH and prolactin secretory patterns were derived from the measurement of 20-min interval plasma samples obtained during a complete 24-h period in a patient with persistent postpartum amenorrhea and galactorrhea (Chiari- Frommel syndrome), before and after clomiphene citrate therapy. During nocturnal sleep, polygraphic monitoring was carried out to precisely identify sleep onset, specific sleep stages and waking periods. During the evening and nighttime hours, LH and FSH concentrations were markedly reduced, compared to the daytime patterns both before and after clomiphene therapy. A sleepassociated rise of prolactin concentration was present, similar to the pattern found in normal subjects but at higher concentrations. The reciprocal nature of the nocturnal secretory patterns for LH and FSH and prolactin in this patient suggests an alteration in hypothalamic dopaminergic mechanisms which are thought to control the secretion of these hormones.