title: Hypopituitarism.
abstract: Hypopituitarism refers to deficiency of one or more hormones produced by the anterior pituitary or released from the posterior pituitary. Hypopituitarism is associated with excess mortality, a key risk factor being cortisol deficiency due to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) deficiency. Onset can be acute or insidious, and the most common cause in adulthood is a pituitary adenoma, or treatment with pituitary surgery or radiotherapy. Hypopituitarism is diagnosed based on baseline blood sampling for thyroid stimulating hormone, gonadotropin, and prolactin deficiencies, whereas for ACTH, growth hormone, and antidiuretic hormone deficiency dynamic stimulation tests are usually needed. Repeated pituitary function assessment at regular intervals is needed for diagnosis of the predictable but slowly evolving forms of hypopituitarism. Replacement treatment exists in the form of thyroxine, hydrocortisone, sex steroids, growth hormone, and desmopressin. If onset is acute, cortisol deficiency should be replaced first. Modifications in replacement treatment are needed during the transition from paediatric to adult endocrine care, and during pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Christie Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK; Centre for Endocrinology and Diabetes, Institute of Human Development, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Claire E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Higham
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Department of Endocrinology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Gudmundur
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Johannsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Christie Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK; Centre for Endocrinology and Diabetes, Institute of Human Development, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK. Electronic address: stephen.m.shalet@manchester.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Stephen M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Shalet
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000236:Adenoma / Q000097:blood / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000172:deficiency; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003894:Deamino Arginine Vasopressin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000172:deficiency; D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000172:deficiency; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000172:deficiency; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000172:deficiency; D007016:Hypophysectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007018:Hypopituitarism / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000378:metabolism*; D010908:Pituitary Hormones, Anterior / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000172:deficiency*; D010910:Pituitary Irradiation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000172:deficiency; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000172:deficiency; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000172:deficiency; D014667:Vasopressins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000172:deficiency
chemical_list: D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary; D010908:Pituitary Hormones, Anterior; D014667:Vasopressins; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D011388:Prolactin; D013972:Thyrotropin; D003894:Deamino Arginine Vasopressin; D013974:Thyroxine; D006854:Hydrocortisone