title: Antipituitary antibodies in a postpartum woman with partial pituitary deficiency and a normal pituitary MRI scan.
abstract: We highlight the diagnostic consideration of lymphocytic adenohypophysitis (LAH) in the postpartum patient with unexplained partial pituitary insufficiency. Further, we emphasize that in patients with a normal magnetic resonance imaging scan, the measurement of antipituitary antibodies (APA) may provide an alternative means of confirming the diagnosis. Finally, although assays of APA are nonstandardized, intensive study and development of a reliable APA assay could promote our understanding of the autoimmune process, eventually facilitating the diagnosis of LAH and eliminating the need for biopsy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mau
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ratner
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gindoff
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D010900:Pituitary Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000276:immunology; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency*; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine; D011241:Prednisone