Question 2989
{"accessible":false,"alternatives":[{"id":14538,"text":"it consists of a prolactin monomer bound to an IgG molecule"},{"id":14539,"text":"it has a rapid clearance rate similar to immunoglobulins"},{"id":14540,"text":"it is a monomer with no immunoreactivity"},{"id":14541,"text":"it is easily detectable using traditional immunological assays"},{"id":14542,"text":"it is the primary biologically active form of prolactin"}],"archived":false,"correctAlternativeId":14538,"explanation":"\u003cp\u003eProlactin primarily exists as a biologically active monomer, while larger isoforms, collectively known as macroprolactin, are mostly biologically inactive. These macroprolactin forms typically consist of a prolactin monomer bound to an IgG molecule and exhibit an extended clearance rate similar to immunoglobulins. Despite their clinical inertness, macroprolactin presents challenges in immunological assays for prolactin detection due to their immunoreactivity. Historically, distinguishing elevated prolactin levels as monomeric or macroprolactin was a cumbersome, time-consuming, and expensive process, limiting widespread availability. However, recent advancements, such as cost-effective and rapid techniques like polyethylene glycol precipitation, have facilitated this crucial clinical differentiation in more laboratories.\u003c/p\u003e","id":2989,"imageUrl":null,"imageAttribution":null,"imageAttributionCaseInfo":null,"firstQuestionPath":"/questions/2989","nextQuestionPath":"/articles/elevated-prolactin-differential/questions/1478","relatedArticles":[],"alsoUsedIn":[{"id":80,"kind":"Course","title":"[TRIAL] Pituitary Region Learning Pathway - page 80","link":"https://radiopaedia.org/courses/trial-pituitary-learning-pathway/pages/80"},{"id":80,"kind":"Course","title":"Pituitary Region Learning Pathway - page 80","link":"https://radiopaedia.org/courses/pituitary-learning-pathway/pages/80"}],"stem":"\u003cp\u003eWhich statement best characterizes macroprolactin?\u003c/p\u003e","menuLinks":[{"text":"Report problem with question","url":"https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfO3soWYhOjJ7yErSysyCe5V4A1CqW7WK3rDA7MtAkecMGqNw/viewform?entry.1624461248\u0026entry.553583435=https://radiopaedia.org/questions/2989"}],"attemptsPercentages":[{"alternativeId":"14541","percentage":9},{"alternativeId":"14539","percentage":13},{"alternativeId":"14538","percentage":50},{"alternativeId":"14542","percentage":20},{"alternativeId":"14540","percentage":9}],"promptToLogin":false,"questionManager":false,"articleId":"elevated-prolactin-differential"}