Autoimmune hypopituitarism in patients with coeliac disease: symptoms confusingly similar.
Coeliac disease does not always respond properly to a gluten-free diet, and treatment may be complicated by an underlying autoimmune endocrine disorder. We report three cases of hypopituitarism in patients with coeliac disease who seemed to have incomplete dietary response. The first patient had diabetes and suffered from hypoglygaemic events; the second had muscular atrophy of unknown origin while the third had growth failure. None had a pituitary mass, suggesting that hypopituitarism was of autoimmune origin. Overall condition improved only after replacement therapy for the underlying hormone deficiency; this association should thus be recognized.
Collin
P
P
Dept. of Medicine, Tampere University Hospital, Finland. pekka.collin@uta.fi
Hakanen
M
M
Salmi
J
J
Mäki
M
M
Kaukinen
K
K
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000178:diet therapy; D002648:Child; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007018:Hypopituitarism / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000150:complications
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones