Ahumada-Del Castillo syndrome

Ahumada-Del Castillo Syndrome is a rare endocrine disorder characterized by galactorrhea, amenorrhea, and high levels of prolactin in the blood. It is also known as Galactorrhea-Amenorrhea Syndrome.

Overview

Ahumada-Del Castillo Syndrome is a condition that primarily affects women, although it can occur in men. The syndrome is named after the Chilean physicians who first described it, Dr. Jorge Ahumada and Dr. Arturo Del Castillo. The primary symptoms of the syndrome are galactorrhea, or the spontaneous flow of milk from the breast, and amenorrhea, or the absence of menstrual periods. These symptoms are caused by an overproduction of prolactin, a hormone that stimulates milk production.

Causes

The exact cause of Ahumada-Del Castillo Syndrome is unknown. However, it is believed to be related to a malfunction in the hypothalamus, a part of the brain that regulates the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland, in turn, controls the production of prolactin. In some cases, the syndrome may be caused by a pituitary adenoma, a benign tumor of the pituitary gland.

Symptoms

The primary symptoms of Ahumada-Del Castillo Syndrome are galactorrhea and amenorrhea. Other symptoms may include infertility, osteoporosis, and visual disturbances. In men, the syndrome can cause gynecomastia, or enlargement of the breast tissue, and impotence.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of Ahumada-Del Castillo Syndrome is based on the presence of the characteristic symptoms and elevated levels of prolactin in the blood. Additional tests may be performed to rule out other conditions that can cause similar symptoms, such as thyroid disease or polycystic ovary syndrome.

Treatment

Treatment for Ahumada-Del Castillo Syndrome typically involves medication to reduce the levels of prolactin in the blood. In some cases, surgery may be required to remove a pituitary adenoma.

See also

• Galactorrhea
• Amenorrhea
• Prolactin
• Hypothalamus
• Pituitary gland
• Pituitary adenoma

NIH genetic and rare disease info

• NIH info on Ahumada-Del Castillo syndrome

Ahumada-Del Castillo syndrome is a rare disease.

Ahumada-Del Castillo syndrome Resources
Need Help Finding a Doctor? Need help finding a doctor or specialist anywhere in the world? Explore our world directory. WikiMD's DocFinder can assist you in locating millions of physicians.	Medical Knowledge Access the latest research - Most recent articles Ongoing trials.

Translate to: East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski