Hypopituitarism - Symptoms, Causes, Images, and Treatment Options

Diseases

Highlights & Basics

Key Highlights

Hypopituitarism is a deficiency of one or more pituitary hormones.
It has a variable presentation depending on the cause.
Symptoms include headaches, amenorrhea, galactorrhea, and visual field defects.
Treatment depends on correction of the underlying cause. Where causes are not correctable, treatment focuses on replacing the target hormones.
Patients who require cortisol for adrenocorticotropic hormone deficiency require increased dosage in times of stress (such as infection, trauma, and surgery).

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Definition

Epidemiology

Etiology

Pathophysiology

Citations

Key Articles

Prabhakar VK, Shalet SM. Aetiology, diagnosis and management of hypopituitarism in adult life. Postgrad Med J. 2006 Apr;82(966):259-66.[Abstract]
Freda PU, Beckers AM, Katznelson L, et al. Pituitary incidentaloma: an endocrine society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011 Apr;96(4):894-904.[Abstract][Full Text]
Tritos NA, Yuen KC, Kelly DF; AACE Neuroendocrine and Pituitary Scientific Committee. American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and American College of Endocrinology disease state clinical review: a neuroendocrine approach to patients with traumatic brain injury. Endocr Pract. 2015 Jul;21(7):823-31.[Abstract]
Fleseriu M, Hashim IA, Karavitaki N, et al. Hormonal replacement in hypopituitarism in adults: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2016 Oct 13;101(11):3888-921.[Abstract][Full Text]
Bhasin S, Brito JP, Cunningham GR, et al. Testosterone therapy in men with hypogonadism: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2018 May 1;103(5):1715-44.[Abstract][Full Text]
Van Aken MO, Lamberts SWJ. Diagnosis and treatment of hypopituitarism: an update. Pituitary. 2005;8(3-4):183-91.[Abstract]
Cook DM, Yuen KC, Biller BM, et al. American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists medical guidelines for clinical practice for growth hormone use in growth hormone-deficient adults and transition patients: 2009 update. Endocr Pract. 2009 Sep-Oct;15 Suppl 2:1-29.[Abstract]

Referenced Articles

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