Acute Ischaemic Stroke With Hyperprolactinemia:A Case Report

Background: Macroincidentalomas were reported in 0.2% of patient underwent imaging (CT scans) for central nervous symptoms (1). In acute ischaemic stroke with hyperprolactinemia, the diagnosis of a double pathology of ischemic stroke and sellar tumour especially prolactinoma need to be considered. Hyperprolactinemia itself may be considered as a risk factor for ischemic stroke due to its thrombogenic effect (3). Clinical Case: A 47-year old man underlying hypertension and diabetes mellitus for 5 years presented with sudden onset of right sided body weakness associated with facial asymmetry and aphasia. No history of fever or trauma. Asymptomatic of hyperprolactinemia previously. On general examinations Glasgow Coma Scale 11/15 Eye 4 Verbal 1 Motor 6, blood pressure was unstable with readings of systolic 244mmHg and diastolic 142mmHg. Neurological examinations showed expressive aphasia, right hemianopia, right facial nerve palsy and absence of gag reflex. Cerebellar signs were negative. Motor function examinations of right upper and lower limbs showed hypertonia, reduce power of 2/5, normal reflexes and up going plantar response. Sensory functions of right upper and lower limbs were reduced. Clinically diagnosed as stroke with hypertensive emergency. CT brain showed multiple hypodensities due to recent infarct and incidental finding of an aggressive sellar mass. MRI brain showed left Middle Cerebral Artery territory infarct and an aggressive sphenoid sinus mass with suprasellar and bilateral cavernous sinus extension possibility of a macroadenoma. Serum prolactin level showed markedly hyperprolactinemia (21146 ng/ml, n 4.04 – 15.2 ng/ml) which level of 500ng/ml or greater is diagnostic of a macroprolactinoma (2). FSH level (0.929 IU/L, n 1.5-12.4 IU/L) and LH level (1.11 IU/L, n 1.7-8.6 IU/L) were low in this patient due to suppression of GnRH secretion from hypothalamus by prolactin. Testosterone level (0.15 nmol/L, n 8.64-29.0 nmol/L) was low secondary to low LH. Serum cortisol, growth hormone and TSH were normal. Platelet count and coagulation profiles were normal. The patient was treated conservatively in ward for acute ischaemic stroke and later was started on dopamine agonist cabergoline for hyperprolactinemia. Conclusion: This is a case report of acute ischaemic stroke with markedly hyperprolactinemia secondary to incidentaloma macroprolactinoma. Reference: (1)Freda PU, Beckers AM, Katznelson L, et al. Pituitary incidentaloma: an endocrine society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011; 96 (4): 894-904.(2)Abha Majumdar and Nisha Sharma Mangal. Hyperprolactinemia. J Hum Reprod Sci. 2013 Jul-Sep; 6(3): 168–175.(3)Sankalp Kumar Tripathi, Pallavi Kamble, M.G. Muddeshwar. Serum Prolactin Level in Patients of Ischemic stroke. International Journal of Contemporary Medical Research 2016; 3(12): 3459-3460.