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THE INVESTIGATION OF HYPOPITUITARISM
Author(s) -
LAZARUS L.
Publication year - 1967
Publication title -
australasian annals of medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-5994
pISSN - 0571-9283
DOI - 10.1111/imj.1967.16.2.107
Subject(s) - hypopituitarism , endocrinology , metyrapone , medicine , hormone , basal (medicine) , urine , hypothalamus , vasopressin , pituitary gland , insulin
Summary A dynamic scheme is described for the investigation of patients suspected of having hypopituitarism. The hypothalamus and pituitary are investigated as a single functional unit by the use of basal studies of each trophic hormone and the subsequent hormonal response to stimuli. The basal studies include the measurement of the total 17‐oxogenic steroid content in the urine, total pituitary gonadotrophin content in the urine, thyroidal uptake of 131 I and serum growth hormone levels. The stimuli used include insulin‐induced hypoglycæia and the administration of metyrapone, pyrogens and vasopressin. The majority of patients with hypopituitarism have partial hypopituitarism, and unihormonal deficiencies are not uncommon. Classification of the disorder should be on a functional basis.