Modern approach to bone comorbidity in prolactinoma

Prolactinomas account for more than half of pituitary adenomas, and besides their clinical impact on fertility and gonadal function, they lead to detrimental effects on bone. Patients with prolactinoma are prone to deterioration of bone structure caused not only by prolactin (PRL) induced hypogonadism but also by its direct actions on bone cells and calcium metabolism. However, clinical studies have shown inconsistent evidence regarding whether PRL could have a deleterious effect independently from gonadal insufficiency on skeletal integrity. Seminal studies from our group reported an increased prevalence of vertebral fractures (VFs) in both female and male patients with prolactinoma. Treatment of prolactinoma with dopamine agonists can restore gonadal function and improve bone mineral density. Since the presence of VFs may be related to more aggressive disease, bone comorbidities in prolactinoma should be managed by a multidisciplinary team in line with the recent concept of ‘pituitary tumors centers of excellence’. The review aims to evaluate the mechanism of PRL actions on bone, as well as to provide practical indications for a modern approach to the management of skeletal complications of patients with prolactin-secreting adenoma considering different clinical characteristics and outcomes.