Hypopituitarism

Symptoms:

• fatigue
• weakness
• sensitivity to cold
• decreased appetite
• weight loss
• abdominal pain
• low blood pressure
• headache
• visual disturbances
• short stature (< 5 feet) if onset is during a growth period
• loss of armpit or pubic hair
• in women: cessation of menses, infertility, or failure to lactate
• in men: decreased sexual interest, loss of body or facial hair
• in children: slowed growth and sexual development

Note: Symptoms may develop slowly and may vary greatly depending upon the severity of the disorder and the number of deficient hormones and their target organs.

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

• weight gain (unintentional)
• joint stiffness
• hoarseness or changing voice
• hair loss
• facial swelling

Signs and tests:

Diagnosis of hypopituitarism must confirm hormonal deficiency due to abnormality of the pituitary gland, and rule out disease of the target organ.

• cranial CT scan, revealing a mass (aggregation of cells) consistent with pituitary tumor
• cranial MRI, revealing a pituitary mass
• serum luteinizing hormone, decreased
• serum follicle stimulating hormone, decreased
• serum testosterone level, decreased
• serum estradiol, decreased
• serum cortisol, decreased
• serum sodium, reduced
• serum highly-sensitive ACTH, decreased
• T4, decreased
• serum thyroid stimulating hormone, decreased
• serum thyroid stimulating hormone response to thyroid-releasing hormone, decreased

This disease may also alter the results of the following tests:

• growth hormone
• glucose test
• estriol - urine
• 17-ketosteroids
• 17-hydroxycorticosteroids