Chapter 41 - Pituitary and Hypothalamic Dysfunction

Question 1

Anterior Pituitary Hormone

• somatropin (Humatrope)

Answer 1

 somatropin (Humatrope)
 MOA: Stimulates skeletal, linear, muscle and organ growth by various actions
 Use: Growth deficiency in children
 Admin: Always have another nurse recheck calculation before administering
 AE: Mild edema, headache, localized muscle pain weakness, hyperglycemia. Otitis media may develop in children
 Contra: Patients with closed epiphyses

Question 2

Posterior Pituitary Hormones

• desmopressin acetate (DDAVP)

Answer 2

 desmopressin acetate (DDAVP)
 MOA: Increases cyclic adenosine monophosphate in the cells of renal tubule to increase water permeability, decreasing urine volume and increasing its osmolality
 Use: Neurogenic diabetes insipidus (DI)
 AE: Erythema, swelling, burning at IV site
 BBW: Hyponatremia may develop and lead to seizures

Question 3

Posterior Pituitary Hormones

• Vasopressin

Answer 3

 MOA: Causes increased reabsorption of water which increases plasma volume and BP
 Use: Diabetes insipidus, hemodynamically unstable patients with hypotension

Question 4

Posterior Pituitary Hormones

• Oxytocin

Answer 4

 MOA: Promotes uterine contractility

 Use: Induce labor, and control bleeding in the postpartum period

Question 5

Hypothalamic Hormones

• leuprolide acetate (Lupron)

Answer 5

 leuprolide acetate (Lupron)
 MOA: LH-releasing hormone agonist, acts as a potent inhibitor of gonadotropin secretion, thus suppressing production of ovarian and testicular steroids
 Use: Central precocious puberty in children (boys prior to age 9 and girls prior to 8 develop secondary sex characteristics; early onset puberty), cancer, infertility, endometriosis, uterine fibroids
 AE: Pain at injection site, other AEs uncommon (< 2% complain of AEs)