Predictors of pituitary dysfunction in patients surviving ischemic stroke.
BACKGROUND
Stroke is a leading cause of death in industrialized countries, representing the main cause of long-term disability. Recent studies indicate that hypopituitarism may be observed after an acute stroke.


OBJECTIVE
The aim was to prospectively investigate incidence and pattern of pituitary dysfunction in patients suffering ischemic stroke and to assess the predictive value of different clinical and radiological parameters for hypopituitarism.


METHODS
We assessed endocrine, clinical, radiological, and functional parameters in 56 patients (34 males; mean age, 64.8 ± 1.3 yr; mean body mass index, 25.8 ± 0.45 kg/m(2)) at 1-3 months (visit 1) and 12-15 months (visit 2) after an ischemic stroke.


RESULTS
At visit 1, hypopituitarism was detected in 20 (35.7%) of 56 stroke patients, with multiple deficits in three and isolated deficits in 17. At visit 2, hypopituitarism was detected in 18 (37.5%) of 48 stroke patients, with multiple deficits in two. Four patients with previously diagnosed isolated GH or LH/FSH deficit exhibited normal pituitary function, whereas GH deficiency was newly diagnosed in three cases. Hypopituitarism was associated with worse outcome. We identified both clinical (preexisting diabetes mellitus, medical complications during hospitalization) and radiological (Alberta Stroke Programme Early CT Score ≤ 7) parameters as major risk factors for developing hypopituitarism after ischemic stroke.


CONCLUSIONS
Hypopituitarism may associate with ischemic stroke in one third of cases and persist in a long-term period, aggravating the functional outcome. We identified specific risk factors for hypopituitarism after stroke, which may help to select patients needing an accurate endocrine evaluation to improve stroke outcome.
Bondanelli
Marta
M
Department of Biomedical Sciences and Advanced Therapies, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
Ambrosio
Maria Rosaria
MR
Carli
Anna
A
Bergonzoni
Antonella
A
Bertocchi
Amedeo
A
Zatelli
Maria Chiara
MC
Ceruti
Stefano
S
Valle
Domenico
D
Basaglia
Nino
N
degli Uberti
Ettore C
EC
D000368:Aged; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007018:Hypopituitarism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010900:Pituitary Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D010901:Pituitary Function Tests; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011859:Radiography; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D017741:Survivors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*