Overview
Hypopituitarism is a rare disorder in which your pituitary gland – a kidney-bean-sized gland at the base of the brain – fails to produce or does not produce enough hormones. These hormones affect the puberty, growth and development of children and adolescents.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
Growth hormone deficiency produces the following symptoms in children:
- Low glucose level
- Short stature
Luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) deficiency produce the following symptom in children and adolescents:
Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) deficiency leads to low thyroid hormone levels (hypothyroidism). This produces symptoms such as:
- Fatigue
- Weight gain
- Dry or itchy skin
- Constipation
- Sensitivity to the cold or difficulty in staying warm.
Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) deficiency impacts how the adrenal glands work, affecting the body's response to stress. This produces symptoms such as:
- Severe fatigue
- Frequent and prolonged infections
- Low blood pressure and fainting
- Confusion
- Nausea or vomiting
- Abdominal discomfort
- Shock that be fatal
Anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) deficiency can cause a disorder known as diabetes insipidus and its symptoms include:
- Extreme thirst
- Excessive urination
- Electrolyte imbalances.
The following tests may be performed to check hormone levels and determine the most appropriate treatment plan:
Blood tests
These tests measure your hormone levels and can identify low levels of thyroid, adrenal or sex hormones.
Stimulation or dynamic testing
These tests measure and assess your body's hormone levels after you've taken certain medications to stimulate hormone production.
They are used to assess different endocrine glands function.
Brain imaging
A pituitary tumor or other pituitary gland problems can be detected with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computerized tomography (CT).
Vision tests
These can determine if the growth of a pituitary tumor has impacted your sight or field of vision.
Treatment
Treatment depends on the cause: If a pituitary tumor is diagnosed, referral to neurosurgeons and oncologists is indicated and Hormone replacement may be required.
