2- HYPOPITUITARISM

• Hypopituitarism

  Deficiency of pituitary hormones
• Causes of hypopituitarism

  • Pituitary or hypothalamic tumor
  • Previous surgery/radiation for pituitary adenoma à deficiency of pituitary hormones
• Clinical features of hypopituitarism (depending on which hormone is affected)

  • GH à Short stature in children, silent in adults
  • LH & FSH à loss of libido, amenorrhea, erectile dysfunction
  • ACTH à hypotension (secondary adrenal insufficiency)
  • TSH à fatigue & tiredness (secondary hypothyroidism)
  • Pallor with hairlessness (alabaster skin) – in long-standing hypopituitarism
• Syndromes associated with hypopituitarism

  • Kalman's syndrome: congenital deficiency of GnRH + anosmia
  • Sheehan's syndrome: postpartum hemorrhage à pituitary infarction
  • Pituitary apoplexy: rapid increase in tumor size due to pituitary infarction or hemorrhage
  • Empty sella syndrome: pituitary gland is either located eccentrically or in some people pituitary atrophy
• Treatment for hypopituitarism

  Hormone supplementation (depending on deficiency of which hormone)