Abstract
Study question
What are the consequences of panhypopituitarism on pregnancy outcomes?
Summary answer
After controlling for confounding effects, women with panhypopituitarism have a higher prevalence of adverse obstetrical (including post-partum hemorrhage, hysterectomy and maternal death) and neonatal outcomes.
What is known already
Panhypopituitarism is a condition of inadequate or absent anterior pituitary hormone production. Pregnancy in women with panhypopituitarism is uncommon and there is only limited data (mainly case reports) regarding pregnancy outcomes in these women. Given the scarcity of data we sought to assess the association between panhypopituitarism and obstetrical and neonatal outcomes.
Study design, size, duration
A retrospective population-based study utilizing data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project—Nationwide Inpatient Sample (HCUP-NIS). A dataset of all deliveries between 2004 and 2014 inclusively, was created. Within this group, all deliveries to women who had a diagnosis of panhypopituitarism during pregnancy were identified as part of the study group (n = 179), and the remaining deliveries comprised the reference group (n = 9,096,609).
Participants/materials, setting, methods
The HCUP-NIS is the largest inpatient sample database in the USA, and it is comprised of hospitalizations throughout the country. It provides information relating to 20% of US admissions and represents over 96% of the American population. Multivariate logistic regression analysis, controlling for confounding effects, was conducted to explore associations between panhypopituitarism and delivery and neonatal outcomes. According to Tri-Council Policy statement (2018), IRB approval was not required, given data was anonymous and publicly available.
Main results and the role of chance
Women with a diagnosis of panhypopituitarism were more likely to be older, to have a diagnosis of chronic hypertension, to have a diagnosis of pre-gestational diabetes mellitus and to be carrying twins or a higher order pregnancy (all p < 0.0001), than the controls. A significantly higher risk of post-partum hemorrhage (adjusted odds ratio-aOR:3.52; 95%CI:2.18–5.69,p < 0.0001), maternal infection (aOR:3.97; 95%CI:2.30–6.85,p < 0.0001), pulmonary embolism (aOR:14.90; 95%CI:2.06–107.82,p < 0.007), disseminated intravascular coagulation (aOR:20.29; 95%CI:10.60–38.85,p < 0.0001), maternal death (aOR:31.90; 95%CI:3.33–234.85,p = 0.001) and congenital anomalies (aOR:4.55; 95CI:1.86–11.16,p = 0.001), were found among the panhypopituitarism patients. Surprisingly, there was a lower incidence of caesarean delivery (aOR:0.69; 95%CI:0.50–0.96,p = 0.026) in the panhypopituitarism patients than the controls. No significant difference was found in the rate of pregnancy induced hypertension (95%CI:0.78-1.97), gestational hypertension (95%CI:0.14-1.41), preeclampsia (95%CI:0.96-2.99), gestational diabetes (95%CI:0.30-1.01), preterm delivery (95%CI:0.74-1.91), preterm premature rupture of membranes (95%CI:0.17-2.82), operative vaginal delivery (95%CI: 0.23-1.19), small for gestational age neonates (95%CI:0.27-2.02) or intra-uterine fetal demise (95%CI:0.13-6.71).
Limitations, reasons for caution
The limitations of our study are its retrospective nature and the fact that it relies on an administrative database. The severity of specific hormonal deficiencies and the presence and magnitude of posterior pituitary hormone deficiencies could not be assessed, nor could compliance with hormone replacement.
Wider implications of the findings
Until now, no control studies of outcomes with panhypopituitaryism in pregnancy are available in the medical literature. Physicians should be aware of and try to prevent the above possible maternal and fetal complications related to this endocrinopathy. Future studies should evaluate the role of medication compliance with pregnancy outcomes.
Trial registration number
not applicable
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