Hypopituitarism Flashcards
Approximately how much of the anterior pituitary needs to be lost for there to be hypopituitarism?
75%
What are we thinking when we say tumors or mass lesions cause hypo?
Pituitary adenoma
What two conditions are among the most common causes of pituitary hypo?
Traumatic brain injury and subarachnoid hemorrhage
How does surgery or radiation cause hypo?
Inadvertently destroy the normal healthy tissue of the pituitary
Explain the most common form of clinically significant ischemic necrosis of the anterior pituitary?
Sheehan syndrome.
During pregnancy, the anterior pituitary doubles in size, but not its blood supply to it, so there is a constant state of ischemia. Anything to compromise blood supply can cause serious problems.
Two other conditions that can cause ischemic necrosis of the pituitary?
DIC and any form of shock
What is pituitary apoplexy and how does it cause hypo? Also, what are its 3 most common clinical signs and symptoms?
Sudden hemorrhage into the anterior pituitary gland.
Severe headache, double vision, and hypo.
What other tumors/masses do we need to consider that can cause hypo?
Tumors in the hypothalamus disrupting pituitary releasing factors/hormones
What two inflammatory disorders can cause hypo?
Sarcoidosis and TB meningitis
What gene mutation did the book mention that causes hypo?
PIT1
Deficiency of GH can lead to what 3 things?
Too much body fat, less muscle, reduced strength
Deficiency in Gonadotropins leads to what 3 things in males and what 3 things in females?
No sex drive, low sperm and less body hair
Amenorrhea, infertility and small breasts
Deficiency in TSH leads to what 3 things?
Low energy, constipation, and weight gain
Deficiency of ACTH leads to what 3 things?
Weakness, fatigue, and low blood glucose
What is the 1 thing that happens because of deficiency of prolactin?
Lactation don’t work
What is another name for Sheehan syndrome?
Postpartum necrosis
What is the unique cyst causing problems for the anterior pituitary and what are the 2 complications?
Rathkes cleft cyst. Cyst derived from rathkes pouch.
Can expand and compress the gland or rupture and cause inflammation.
What type of cells line the rathke cleft cyst?
Ciliated cuboidal epithelium which can have goblet cells sometimes
What are the two forms of empty sella syndrome and explain each one?
Primary: CSF leaks into the sella turcica and compresses the pituitary
Secondary: infarction of the pituitary leaving empty space where functional gland used to be.
