Familial puerperal alactogenesis: possibility of a genetically transmitted isolated prolactin deficiency

Isolated prolactin deficiency is a rare disorder of which only few cases have been reported. In this study we report a woman and her mother who during their eight pregnancies had puerperal alactogenesis. Hormone evaluation revealed isolated prolactin deficiency in both of them. This report demonstrates the dominant role played by prolactin in puerperal lactation. We postulate the possibility of a genetically transmitted isolated prolactin deficiency.