Antipsychotic-Induced Hyperprolactinemia and Testosterone Levels in Boys

Yvette Roke*, Peter N. van Harten, Jan K. Buitelaar, Diederik E. Tenback, Yolanda B. de Rijke, Annemieke M. Boot

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Aims: This cross-sectional study investigates the effect of antipsychotic (AP)-induced hyperprolactinemia on testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), inhibin B, and puberty in boys with mainly autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Method: One hundred and four physically healthy 10- to 19-year-old boys with ASD or disruptive behavior disorder (DBD) were recruited between October 2006 and November 2009. Fifty-six adolescents had been treated with AP for >16 months; 48 had never been exposed to AP. Morning non-fasting levels of serum prolactin, testosterone, LH, FSH and inhibin B were obtained and Tanner pubertal stage was determined. Patients with hyperprolactinemia (n = 28) were compared to those without hyperprolactinemia (n = 76) using non-parametric or parametric tests, as appropriate. Results: Patients with AP-induced hyperprolactinemia had significantly lower testosterone levels with adjustment for age (p = 0.035) compared to patients without hyperprolactinemia and without AP treatment. The difference was not significant within the AP-treated group, and the level of testosterone was within the reference range compared to age- and gender-matched normative data. There was no between-group difference for LH, FSH, inhibin B or Tanner stages. Conclusion: AP-induced hyperprolactinemia is related to significantly lower testosterone levels in pubertal boys with ASD and DBD.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)235-240
JournalHormone Research in Paediatrics
Volume77
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2012

Keywords

  • Hyperprolactinemia
  • Adolescents
  • Testosterone
  • Puberty
  • Antipsychotics

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