title: Hyponatremia associated coma due to pituitary apoplexy in early pregnancy: a case report.
abstract: Pituitary apoplexy in pregnancy is rare. Its clinical features may range from unspecific complaints to panhypopituitarism resulting even in coma and death. Therefore, alertness to signs and symptoms of acute loss of pituitary function in pregnancy is mandatory. We report a woman in her 7th week of her first gestation presenting with sudden coma due to severe hyponatremia. Secondary adrenal insufficiency could be identified as the underlying cause. Panhypopituitarism including central diabetes insipidus and spontaneous abortion developed during the follow-up. Magnetic resonance imaging showed pituitary apoplexy without a pre-existing pituitary mass. The clinical course was notable for severe complications, including neurological deficits through cerebral ischemia, but eventual recovery could be achieved. We discuss the diagnostic difficulties in the evaluation of pituitary disease in pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Clinical Nutrition, University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland. ina.krull@insel.ch
authors.forename: Ina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Krull
authors.forename: Emanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Christ
authors.forename: Christian Philipp
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Kamm
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ganter
authors.forename: Rahel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sahli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003128:Coma / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007010:Hyponatremia / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D010899:Pituitary Apoplexy / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy