Panhypopituitarism is a rare disease that corresponds to the decrease or absence of production of various hormones due to the alteration of the pituitary gland, which is a gland located in the brain responsible for regulating several other glands of the body and, therefore, lead to the production of hormones essential for the proper functioning of the body.
The lack of hormones can lead to the appearance of various symptoms, such as weight loss, changes in the menstrual cycle, reduction in height, excessive fatigue and fertility problems, for example. So, the main way to reduce the symptoms of panhypopituitarism is hormone replacement, which should be done according to the endocrinologist’s advice.
- The symptoms of panhypopituitarism depend on hormones that are not produced or are produced in lower concentrations.
- Such as:.
In addition to the symptoms described by the person and laboratory tests that aim to measure hormones in the blood, the endocrinologist can complete the diagnosis and indicate which medications the person should take.
People with panhypopituitism are more likely to develop diabetes insipidus, which occurs due to a decrease in the production of antidiuretic hormone (DHA), resulting in an increase in blood sugar due to a decrease in water concentration, as well as dehydration and plenty of thirst.Learn more about diabetes insipid.
Treatment is carried out in accordance with the advice of the endocrinologist and is performed by hormonal substitution through the use of medicines.Because the pituitary gland controls the production of several hormones, it may be necessary for the person to replace:
Also, due to the mood swings due to hormonal changes, the doctor may recommend the use of mild antidepressants and even anxiolytics to reduce symptoms related to sudden mood swings.
The doctor may also recommend the replacement of calcium and potassium, which are important minerals for various metabolic processes in the body, since certain hormonal changes cause a decrease in the concentration of these minerals in the blood.
The most common cause of panhypopituitism is a pituitary tumor, which, depending on the stage of the tumor, may require removal of the pituitary gland; However, the fact that there has been a tumor in the pituitary gland does not always mean that the person will suffer from panhypopituitism, which only occurs when the gland needs to be removed.
In addition, panhypopitarism can occur as a result of brain infections, such as meningitis, such as Simmonds syndrome, which is a congenital disease or even a consequence of the effects of radiation.