scholarly journals Anterior pituitary hormone deficiency in subjects with total and partial primary empty sella: do all cases need endocrinological evaluation?

Author(s):  
Sayid Shafi Zuhur ◽  
Idris Kuzu ◽  
Ender Uysal ◽  
Yuksel Altuntas
Author(s):  
Mark Oette ◽  
Marvin J. Stone ◽  
Hendrik P. N. Scholl ◽  
Peter Charbel Issa ◽  
Monika Fleckenstein ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A603-A603
Author(s):  
Ross Andrew Cairns ◽  
Mohammed K Azharuddin

Abstract Cranial Diabetes Insipidus is a rare diagnosis and rarer still postpartum. We present the case of 24-year-old woman who developed CDI following pregnancy. The patient had developed persistent polydipsia and polyuria 5 months following her first pregnancy. The pregnancy had been complicated by Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Obstetric Cholestasis and a Postpartum Haemorrhage which had required a 3 unit transfusion of blood. The patient reported feeling fatigued and lightheaded and stated that she had needed to drink water frequently: around 8 litres throughout the day and 4 litres overnight. She reported that she had been unable to breastfeed but the rest of her systemic enquiry was unremarkable. The patient had attributed her symptoms of lethargy to sleepless nights with her new born baby and the polyuria as a consequence of labour and as such had presented for review at her primary care Physician 18 months following delivery. Initial investigations revealed a fasting blood glucose of 4.9 mmol/l, an Adj. Calcium of 2.23 mmol/l and a fasting urine osmolality of 85 mmol/kg. A diagnosis of DI was suspected and was confirmed by water deprivation test: the patient had an inappropriately dilute urine osmolality of 111 mmol/kg when compared to the serum osmolality of 301 mOsm/Kg at the start of the test and her urine failed to concentrate as water was withheld. Administration of DDAVP resulted in appropriate concentration of urine and therefore confirmed the diagnosis specifically as Cranial Diabetes Insipidus. Blood tests revealed normal anterior pituitary function: TSH was 2.78 mU/L, Prolactin was 361 mU/l, LH and FSH were 23.6 U/L and 5.3 U/L, IGF and GH were 197 ug/L and 0.1 ug/l and ACTH was 10 mU/L. Her basal cortisol was 392 nmol/l and was stimulated to 593 nmol/l by SST. MRI Pituitary revealed an unusually flat and broad pituitary gland with a possible tiny lesion in the posterior pituitary suggestive of an adenoma. The patient was established on DDAVP replacement therapy and her quality of life improved: she enjoyed restful sleep and reported less exhaustion. There was no anterior pituitary hormone deficiency 28 months following delivery. DI is a rare diagnosis with an estimated prevalence of 1 in 25000 people. CDI has been commonly reported as being caused by infiltrative or inflammatory pituitary disease, as an iatrogenic sequelae of pituitary surgery or as a result of a congenital defect in the production of vasopressin. We suspect that in this case the patient’s PPH may have resulted in isolated cranial diabetes insipidus though the significance of the MRI scan findings remains unclear. The learning points highlighted by this case are that CDI can occur following pregnancy in an isolated form without anterior pituitary hormone deficiency. We also highlight that patients may misattribute significant symptoms and signs of DI as being a normal part of the postpartum period resulting in a delayed diagnosis.


2020 ◽  
pp. 3-7

Background and aim Empty sella is the neuroradiological or pathological finding of an apparently empty sella turcica. The aim of the study was to analyze the clinical, hormonal and radiological characteristics of patients with empty sella and to compare anterior pituitary function in total versus partial primary empty sella. Methods The records of 36 patients with primary empty sella were retrospectively analyzed over a 24-years period. The patients were evaluated for pituitary function with basal hormone levels (FT4, TSH, IGF1, FSH, LH, cortisol, ACTH, prolactin) and dynamic testing when necessary. Results Our study included 26 women and 10 men with an average age of 47.64 ±15.47 years. Seventy-six per cent of women were multiparous. Fifteen patients were obese. The revealing symptoms were dominated by endocrine signs (52.7%). More than half of our patients complained of headache. Sixty-one of the patients had partial empty sella and the remaining 39% had total empty sella. Two or more pituitary hormone deficiency were found in 41% of cases. Secondary adrenal insufficiency was the most common pituitary hormone deficiency(41.7%).The percentage of hypopituitarism in complete primary empty sella was significantly higher than that in partial primary empty sella (P<0.05).The management was based on hormone replacement therapy in case of hypopituitarism and on analgesic therapy in case of headache. Conclusion The diagnosis of PES must be evoked in an obese, multiparous, hypertensive woman presenting with a symptomatology suggestive of a pituitary deficiency or chronic headache. The correlation between pituitary gland volume and the degree of hypopituitarism highlights the importance of the early diagnosis and hormones replacement.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Elisa Vaiani ◽  
Guido Felizzia ◽  
Fabiana Lubieniecki ◽  
Jorge Braier ◽  
Alicia Belgorosky

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a disorder of the mononuclear phagocyte system that can affect almost any organ and system. The most common central nervous system (CNS) manifestation in LCH is the infiltration of the hypothalamic-pituitary region leading to destruction and neurodegeneration of CNS tissue. The latter causes the most frequent endocrinological manifestation, that is, central diabetes insipidus (CDI), and less often anterior pituitary hormone deficiency (APD). The reported incidence of CDI is estimated between 11.5 and 24% and is considered a risk factor for neurodegenerative disease and APD. Three risk factors for development of CDI are recognized in the majority of the studies: (1) multisystem disease, (2) the occurrence of reactivations or active disease for a prolonged period, and (3) the presence of craniofacial bone lesions. Since CDI may occur as the first manifestation of LCH, differential diagnosis of malignant diseases like germ cell tumours must be made. APD is almost always associated with CDI and can appear several years after the diagnosis of CDI. Growth hormone is the most commonly affected anterior pituitary hormone. Despite significant advances in the knowledge of LCH in recent years, little progress has been made in preventing long-term sequelae such as those affecting the hypothalamic-pituitary system.


Author(s):  
Trevor A. Howlett

Hormone replacement of anterior pituitary hormone deficiency is one of the most frequent clinical interventions in pituitary disease, yet is an area which has rarely been the subject of rigorous scientific evaluation. Even in an era of ‘evidence-based’ medicine, recommendations for patient management are frequently based predominantly on clinical experience, consensus guidelines and occasional retrospective reviews rather than on controlled, prospective clinical trials. Within these limitations, this chapter will attempt to give a balanced view on current best management of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and gonadotropin deficiency.


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