Hypopituitarism (patient information)

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Hypopituitarism

Overview

What are the symptoms?

Who is at highest risk?

Diagnosis

When to seek urgent medical care?

Treatment options

Where to find medical care for Hypopituitarism?

Prevention

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

Hypopituitarism On the Web

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Jinhui Wu, M.D.

Overview

Hypopituitarism is a disorder in which the pituitary gland does not produce normal amounts of some or all of its hormones. Common causes may be genetic mutations, head trauma, brain tumor, brain surgery, radiation treatment, autoimmune inflammation, stroke, infections of the brain, tuberculosis, ans so on. Usual signs and symptoms include abdominal pain, loss of appetite, hypotension, fatigue and weakness, headache, short stature and disorder in secondary sexual characters. Hormone tests, bone age x-ray test and cranial MRI may help disgnosis. Treatments of hypopituitarism focus on the cause of the disease and hormone replacement therapy.

What are the symptoms?

Signs and symptoms of hypopituitarism vary, depending on which pituitary hormones are deficient.

Other health problems may also cause these symptoms. Only a doctor can tell for sure. A person with any of these symptoms should tell the doctor so that the problems can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.

Who is at highest risk?

Diagnosis?

  • Hormone tests: Patients with hypopituitarism may show low levels of thyroid, adrenal or sex hormones. And the doctor can determine whether these low levels are associated with inadequate pituitary hormone production.
  • Bone age x-ray test: Comparing to normal children, bone age test in patients with hypopituitarism may demonstrate a delayed physical maturation.
  • Cranial CT or MRI: Since brain diseases are the most common cause of this condition, it may show pituitary tumor signs and other characteristics in MRI.

When to seek urgent medical care?

If you develop signs and symptoms associated with hypopituitarism, see your doctor to determine the cause. If you experience either of the following symptoms, seeking urgent medical care as soon as possible:

Treatment options

Treatment opinion depends on the cause and the hormaone types insufficient.

Diseases with similar symptoms

Where to find medical care for hypopituitarism?

Directions to Hospitals Treating hypopituitarism

Prevention of hypopituitarism

At present, there is no preventable measure for hypopituitarism.

What to expect (Outook/Prognosis)?

Prognosis of hypopituitarism depends on:

  • The cause of hypopituitarism: Prognosis of hypopituitarism resulting from tumor is worse than other causes.
  • The reaction of hormone replacement therapy.

Copyleft Sources

http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/hypopituitarism/DS00479/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print

http://www.childrenshospital.org/az/Site1133/mainpageS1133P0.html

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000343.htm Template:WH Template:WS