1b Hypopituitarism Flashcards
What are the five anterior pituitary hormones?
growth hormones, prolactin, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), luteinising hormone, follicle stimulating hormones (FSH), ACTH
What is the purpose of hypothalamic releasing factors?
travel in the portal circulation to the anterior pituitary to regulate anterior pituitary hormone production
What is primary disease in relation to the pituitary?
When the gland itself fails
What is secondary disease in r4elation to pituitary function?
when no signal are received from the hypothalamus or anterior pituitary
What happens to TSH and T3 and T4 when a patient has primary hypothyroidism? Why?
T3 and T4 fall and TSH increases - Primary = problem with the gland itself therefore thyroxine levels are lowered, and due to the negative feedback of TSH, this causes the levels to rise
What happens to T3 and T4 and TSH levels when a patient has secondary hypothyroidism?
TSH Falls as the patient cant make it from the pituitary, and because of this T3 and T4 also lower
Why is only cortisol impacted with disorders of the adrenal gland?
Cortisol is regulated by ACTH, aldosterone is through the renin-angiotensin system
What happens to cortisol and ACTH levels during primary hypoadrenalism?
Cortisol falls, ACTH Increases - this is due to destruction of the adrenal cortex
What happens to cortisol and ACTH levels during secondary hypoadrenalism?
pituitary tumour damaging corticotrophs
Can’t make ACTH
ACTH falls, cortisol falls
What happens to TESTOSTERONE/OESTROGEN and FSH/LH levels during secondary hypogonadism?
Can’t make LH/FSH
LH/FSH fall, and therefore Testosterone/oestrogen fall
What happens to Testosterone/Oestrogen and LH and FSH levels during primary hypogonadism?
Testosterone (men) or oestrogen (women) fall, LH
& FSH increase
Patients with congenital hypopituitarism?
Usually due to mutations of
transcription factor genes needed
for normal anterior pituitary
development
* Deficient in GH and at least 1
more anterior pituitary hormone
* Short stature
* Hypoplastic (underdeveloped)
anterior pituitary gland on MRI
What are some acquired causes of hypopituitarism?
- tumours, radiation, infection,
What is hypophysitis?
Inflammation of the pituitary
What is panhypopituitarism?
Total loss of anterior and posterior pituitary function
Describe the relationship between the dosage of radiotherapy and the risk of HPA Axis damage?
higher total dose = higher risk
Which hormones are most sensitive to Radiotherapy?
GH and gonadotrophins
Which endocrine organs are highly sensitive to radiation?
Pituitary and hypothalamus
Why is continual assessment required for patients with radiotherapy induced hypopituitarism?
Risk persists up to 10y after
radiotherapy, so annual assessment
What are the presentations of hypopituitarism (FSH/LH)?
Reduced libido
Secondary amenorrhoea
Erectile dysfunction
Reduced pubic hair
What are the presentations of hypopituitarism (ACTH)?
Fatigue
What are the presentations of hypopituitarism (TSH)?
Fatigue