What is the meaning of hypopituitarism?
Hypopituitarism is when you have a short supply (deficiency) of one or more of the pituitary hormones. These hormone deficiencies can affect any number of your body’s routine functions, such as growth, blood pressure or reproduction. Symptoms typically vary, based on which hormone or hormones you are missing.
What does hypopituitarism feel like?
This can cause tiredness, weakness, dizziness or light-headedness, blackouts (usually as a result of low blood pressure), low blood sugar levels, low sodium levels, weight loss, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea (see the article on Addison’s disease for additional details).
What is the most common cause of hypopituitarism?
We have confirmed that the most common cause of hypopituitarism is a nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma (40.5%), followed by congenital causes (14.6%), prolactinomas and GH-secreting adenomas equally (7.0% and 7.2%), and craniopharyngiomas (5.9%).
How is hypopituitarism diagnosed?
The diagnosis of hypopituitarism is made by measuring basal hormone levels in the morning fasting status or performing stimulation tests if necessary. Six anterior pituitary hormones (GH, prolactin, LH, FSH, TSH, and ACTH) as well as target hormones can be measured via sensitive and reliable immunoassay techniques.
What are symptoms of pituitary problems?
Depending on which hormones are affected, symptoms might include:
- Nausea.
- Weakness.
- Unexplained weight loss or weight gain.
- Loss of body hair.
- Feeling cold.
- Feeling tired or weak.
- Menstrual changes or loss of menstrual periods in women.
- Erectile dysfunction (trouble with erections) in men.
How do you fix hypopituitarism?
Treatment
- Corticosteroids. These drugs, such as hydrocortisone (Cortef) or prednisone (Rayos), replace the adrenal hormones that aren’t being produced because of an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) deficiency.
- Levothyroxine (Levoxyl, Synthroid, others).
- Sex hormones.
- Growth hormone.
- Fertility hormones.
What happens if hypopituitarism is left untreated?
It is essential that the condition is diagnosed and treated as soon as possible, because untreated hypopituitarism has the potential to lead to permanent disability or death.
What happens if the pituitary gland is not functioning properly?
Pituitary tumors can regrow. Your pituitary gland affects vital areas of your body. If your pituitary gland doesn’t function properly, your skin, brain, reproductive organs, vision, mood, energy, growth and more could all be negatively affected. Your body depends on the hormones it produces and releases.
Can hypopituitarism cause depression?
Such hormonal dysregulation may occur in some pituitary tumors and lead to mood symptoms at any point during the course of illness. We present a patient who manifested with recurrent headaches and depressive symptoms prior to the emergence of other features of endocrine dysfunction due to a pituitary adenoma.
Which is the best definition of hypopituitarism?
Definition of hypopituitarism : deficient production of growth hormones by the pituitary gland : deficient production of growth hormones by the pituitary gland
How does hypopituitarism affect the pituitary gland?
In some cases, hypopituitarism is caused by a genetic mutation (inherited). These mutations affect the pituitary gland’s ability to produce one or more of its hormones, often starting at birth or in early childhood. Tumors or diseases of the hypothalamus, a portion of the brain situated just above the pituitary,…
What are the symptoms of hypopituitarism in children?
Anterior pituitary. If the problem is chronic, symptoms consist of fatigue, weight loss, failure to thrive (in children), delayed puberty (in adolescents), hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels), anemia and hyponatremia (low sodium levels). If the onset is abrupt, collapse, shock and vomiting may occur.
What should you do if you have hypopituitarism?
Treatment of hypopituitarism depends on what is causing it. The goal of treatment is have the pituitary gland work as it should. Treatment may include: When should I call my health care provider? Tell your health care provider if your symptoms get worse or you have new symptoms.
