Open AccessIsolated adrenocorticotropic hormone deficiency due to probable lymphocytic hypophysitis in a woman
Author(s) -
F. Hadj Kacem,
Nadia Charfi,
Mouna Mnif,
Mahdi Kamoun,
F. Akid,
F. Mnif,
B. Ben Naceur,
N. Rekik,
Z. Mnif,
Abid Mohamed
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
indian journal of endocrinology and metabolism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.456
H-Index - 28
eISSN - 2230-9500
pISSN - 2230-8210
DOI - 10.4103/2230-8210.119521
Subject(s) - hypophysitis , medicine , adrenocorticotropic hormone , hypopituitarism , hypothalamic disease , magnetic resonance imaging , endocrine system , pituitary gland , hypothalamus , hormone , radiology , hypogonadotropic hypogonadism
We report a 22-year-old woman who presented with asthenia, weight loss and hypotension in which extensive pituitary and adrenal investigations were diagnostic of isolated adrenocorticotropic hormone deficiency (IAD) of pituitary origin. Magnetic resonance imaging of the hypothalamus and pituitary showed a normal-sized pituitary, with no mass lesion. The diagnosis of IAD probably secondary to lymphocytic hypophysitis (LYH) was made. IAD is able to be the way of presentation of LYH, although the disease could or could not turn into a panhypopituitarism. Prompt recognition of this potentially fatal condition is important because of the availability of effective treatment. Indeed, regular endocrine and imaging follow up is important for patients with IAD and normal initial pituitary imaging results to detect early new-onset pituitary hormones deficiencies or imaging abnormalities.