Isolated adrenocorticotropin deficiency as a rare cause of hypoglycaemia in children. Further studies and report of an additional case.
An 11.5-year-old boy presented with recurrent attacks of hypoglycaemic coma. Endocrine investigations indicated adrenocortical insufficiency secondary to isolated ACTH deficiency, how ACTH and cortisol plasma levels with normal secretory reserve of other anterior pituitary hormones. The absence of ACTH response after corticotropin releasing factor and insulin-induced hypoglycaemia suggested a failure of primary pituitary ACTH-secreting cells. Among other hormone-secreting cells, pituitary cell circulating antibodies were negative. CT scan and MRI failed to reveal any anatomical abnormality of the sella or suprasellar area.
al Jurayyan
N A
NA
Department of Paediatrics, King Saud University College of Medicine, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010900:Pituitary Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D010908:Pituitary Hormones, Anterior / Q000097:blood; D012658:Sella Turcica / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D001786:Blood Glucose; D010908:Pituitary Hormones, Anterior; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone