Consequences of hypopituitarism

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted with a doctor of the Department of Diseases & Internal Medicine, Vinmec Nha Trang International General Hospital.
Hypopituitarism or hypopituitarism is a condition in which the pituitary gland is weak, unable to produce enough hormones for the body. This condition leads to serious consequences for the sufferer.

1. Causes of hypopituitarism

There are many causes of pituitary dysfunction. The main causes are given by experts as:
Because the patient is infected with syphilis, tuberculosis, fungal, purulent infection causing encephalitis, meningitis; Patients with sinus congestion, temporal arteritis, carotid aneurysm, traumatic brain injury causing brain bleeding; Postpartum pituitary necrosis: Circulatory disturbance and profuse bleeding, sepsis during delivery or abortion, due to arterial spasm, blockage in pituitary vessels leading to anterior lobe necrosis saddle; Infarction in the pituitary gland in diabetic patients with vascular degeneration.

2. Consequences of hypopituitarism

And when the function of the pituitary gland is reduced, it means that the production of hormones in the pituitary gland is no longer normal. Specifically, the pituitary hormones have the effect of stimulating the activity of other glands in the body, causing severe consequences such as:
Lack of gonadotropic hormones: Including LH and FSH, which stimulates the testes in men. and ovaries in females, affecting fertility. Lack of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), causes hypothyroidism. Deficiency of adrenocorticotropic hormone (corticotropin, ACTH...). Growth hormone (GH) deficiency: This condition, if it occurs before puberty, causes growth retardation. Adults are also affected. The decline in pituitary gland function usually occurs gradually and becomes more severe if not treated promptly. Patients will have non-specific, difficult to recognize symptoms such as fatigue, cold, muscle weakness, loss of appetite, weight loss, abdominal pain, low blood pressure, headache, visual disturbances.

More specifically, women with hypopituitarism often experience early menopause, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and pain during intercourse. In men, sexual dysfunction and hair loss are common in both sexes.
In many cases, patients with reduced pituitary gland function will lead to a lack of thyroid-stimulating hormone with signs of cold intolerance, fatigue, obesity, constipation, pale skin, dry and thick skin. If there is a lack of hormone that stimulates the adrenal cortex, the patient feels fatigue, muscle weakness, weight loss, low blood pressure, nausea, blue skin, and hair loss in women. Children with growth hormone deficiency will be dwarfed, retarded, obese, and have wrinkled skin. Patients may notice additional signs such as dry, pale, rough skin, appearance of small wrinkles unrelated to emotional expression.

3. Treatment of hypopituitarism

To treat hypopituitarism, patients need to follow the doctor's prescription for medication. For patients with sex hormone deficiency, doctors will prescribe estrogen (female) or testosterone (male) at the lowest effective dose possible. Patients with hypopituitarism due to pathology of the hypothalamus can also be successfully treated with the hormone GnRH, which restores fertility and fertility in both men and women.

While patients with thyroid hormone deficiency due to hypopituitarism will be prescribed adrenal function tests and steroid treatment before taking thyroid hormone replacement. People with adrenal cortex hormone deficiency will be given hydrocortisone or cortisone.
The treatment of hypopituitarism, the patient should be determined to have lifelong, continuous treatment and be closely monitored for treatment. The use of therapeutic drugs should be strictly adhered to such as not arbitrarily stopping the drug, not taking the drug on your own, examining and re-examining according to the doctor's advice and when there are signs of fever, nausea, vomiting, weakness, dizziness should immediately report to the treating doctor.
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