title: Clinical spectrum of hypopituitarism in India: A single center experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is paucity of information regarding clinical profile of hypopituitarism from India. We report the clinical profile of hypopituitarism from a tertiary center in North India.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was carried out in patients attending our endocrine center between January 2010 and December 2011. All new patients were studied prospectively and those registered before January 2010 retrospectively. Relevant clinical, hormonal, and imaging data were collected. Dynamic testing for pituitary functions was carried out as necessary. Hormonal deficiencies were defined as per prevailing recommendations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study included 113 subjects. The mean age was 38.6 ± 17.8 years (range, 4 - 76 years). There were 78 (69%) males and 35 females (31%). There were 22 subjects aged ≤18 years (childhood and adolescence) and 91 adults (>18 years). Visual disturbances were the most common presenting complaint (33%), though headache was the most common symptom (81%). Fifteen percent presented with pituitary apoplexy. Tumors comprised of 84% of cases. Hypogonadism (97%) was the most common abnormality seen followed by hypothyroidism (83.2%), hypoadrenalism (79.6%), growth hormone deficiency (88.1% of the 42 patients tested), and diabetes insipidus (13.3%). Panhypopituitarism was seen in 104 (92%) patients. There were no cases of hypopituitarism secondary to traumatic brain injury, subarachnoid hemorrhage, central nervous system infections, or cranial irradiation to extrasellar tumors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The most common cause of hypopituitarism at tertiary care center is pituitary tumors and the commonest presenting complaint is visual symptoms. Panhypopituitarism is present in 92% cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Pathology, Army Hospital (Research and Referral), Delhi Cantonment, India.
authors.forename: Abhay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gundgurthi
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Garg
authors.forename: Reena
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bhardwaj
authors.forename: Karninder S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Brar
authors.forename: Sandeep
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kharb
authors.forename: Aditi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pandit
keywords: Hypopituitarism; Sheehan syndrome; pituitary macroadenoma