Hypopituitarism in Neurocritical Patients: A Case Report

Title:Hypopituitarism in Neurocritical Patients: A Case Report

Volume: 16 Issue: 1

Author(s): Michele Iovino, Nicola Iovine, Fiorentino Mondillo, Edoardo Guastamacchia, Brunclla Licchelli, Vito A. Giagulli and Vincenzo Triggiani

Affiliation:

Keywords: Adrenal insufficiency, hyponatremia, hypopituitarism, neuro-critical patients.

Abstract: Background: Besides changes in pituitary hormones secretion observed during the acute phase of stroke as an adaptive response to injury or an effect of drugs, a true hypopituitarism due to ischemic and/or hemorrhagic damage at the hypothalamus and/or pituitary gland can develop after a stroke.

Case Report: We report a case of a 72-year-old woman showing clinical signs and laboratory data suggesting a secondary adrenal insufficiency following a recent acute brain ischemia. Cortisone therapy significantly improved this pituitary dysfunction.

Conclusions: Clinicians must pay attention to the hypothalamic-pituitary axis in neurocritical patients because hormonal replacement therapy may be life-saving.

Cite this article as:

Iovino Michele, Iovine Nicola, Mondillo Fiorentino, Guastamacchia Edoardo, Licchelli Brunclla, A. Giagulli Vito and Triggiani Vincenzo, Hypopituitarism in Neurocritical Patients: A Case Report, Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets 2016; 16 (1) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1871530315666150930121912