Hyperpituitarism (patient information)
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What is hyperpituitarism?
How do I know if I have hyperpituitarism and what are the symptoms of hyperpituitarism?
Signs and symptoms of hyperpituitarism are the excessive production of growth hormone and abnormal hormone excretion controlled by the pituitary, such as prolactin and thyroid hormones.
- Gigantism in children.
- Abnormal growth of hands and feet in adults
- Headache
- Visual field loss or double vision
- Excessive sweating
- Hoarseness
- Galactorrhea
- Sleep apnea
- Carpal Tunnel syndrome
- Joint pain and limitation of motion
- Muscle weakness
- Numbness or tingling of skin
- Osteoporosis, kyphosis
- Hypertension, arteriosclerosis, even heart failure
Who is at risk for hyperpituitarism?
How to know you have hyperpituitarism?
- Hormone tests: Hyperpituitarism are is the excessive production of growth hormone and abnormal hormone excretion controlled by the pituitary, such as prolactin and thyroid hormones. In patients with hyperpituitarism, it shows elevated growth hormone level, accompanying diabetes, elevated IGF-1 factor (Insulin-like growth factor), elevated prolactin level, decreased free thyroxine level and elevated thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH).
- Liver function and renal function tests: Patients with hyperpituitarism show elevated liver function, elevated phosphorus and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels.
- Abdomen MRI: Since pituitary tumors are the most common cause of this condition, it may show pituitary tumor signs in abdomen MRI. The MRI uses magnetic fields but which is a different imaging type from computed tomography (CT) to produce detailed images of the body.
When to seek urgent medical care?
Call your health care provider if symptoms of pituitary tumor develop. If you experience either of the following symptoms, seeking urgent medical care as soon as possible:
- Palpitation
- Chest pain
- Severe hypertension
Treatment options
Treatment opinion depends on the cause.
- Treatments of pituitary tumor: Surgical removal of tumor is the first selection for the treatment. If failed, radiation therapy, or gamma knife radiation treatment may be helpful.
- Inhibiting growth hormone (GH) synthesis or secretion: Doctors often use bromocriptine to inhibit GH synthesis and use octreotide to suppress GH secretion in at least two-thirds of patients with acromegaly.
- Treatments complications such as hypertension and arteriosclerosis: Regular monitoring of blood pressure is important. Low-salt and low-fat diets, drugs such as ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) may help control blood pressure.
Diseases with similar symptoms
Where to find medical care for hyperpituitarism?
Directions to Hospitals Treating hyperpituitarism
Prevention of hyperpituitarism
The prevention of hyperpituitarism is unknown.
What to expect (Outook/Prognosis)?
Prognosis of hyperpituitariam depends on:
Copyleft Sources
http://www.ecureme.com/emyhealth/data/Hyperpituitarism.asp