Pituitary apoplexy after leuprolide administration for carcinoma of the prostate.
The syndrome of pituitary apoplexy has been reported to occur after the administration of several different medications. We report a case in which pituitary apoplexy developed shortly after the administration of leuprolide in a patient with prostate cancer. Leuprolide is a potent gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) analogue used to suppress leuteotrophic hormone (LH) and testosterone levels in patients with metastatic prostate cancer. LH and testosterone levels actually rise in the first week after its administration before becoming suppressed. We suspect that this acute stimulating effect of leuprolide is linked to the acute onset of pituitary apoplexy in a patient with a possible gonadotrophoma.
Morsi
A
A
Sunnybrook Health Science Centre, University of Toronto, Canada.
Jamal
S
S
Silverberg
J D
JD
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D006801:Humans; D016729:Leuprolide / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010899:Pituitary Apoplexy / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000473:pathology; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D016729:Leuprolide