Open AccessAdult hypopituitarism: Are we missing or is it clinical lethargy?
Author(s) -
K. S. Brar,
MK Garg,
K M Suryanarayana
Publication year - 2011
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 - 10.4103/2230-8210.83400
Subject(s) - hypopituitarism , medicine , lethargy , malaise , etiology , pituitary disease , endocrine system , pediatrics , growth hormone deficiency , disease , adrenal crisis , hormone , adrenal insufficiency , growth hormone
Hypopituitarism, a disease of varied etiologies, is a serious endocrine illness that requires early recognition and prompt treatment to avoid its severe deleterious effects. In adults it is often missed due to non-specific symptoms of growth hormone deficiency and hypogonadism or mild deficiencies of other pituitary hormones. In some it may present with acute onset of symptoms suggestive of acute adrenal (corticotropin) insufficiency or symptoms due to mass lesion in/or around pituitary. High index of suspicion is required to seek hypopituitarism in patients with non-specific symptoms such as fatigue and malaise. Treatment of isolated hormone deficiency, partial or panhypopituitarism, has gratifying results although they require lifelong treatment and follow-up.