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Hypopituitarism
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DIABETES
AND ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
Endocrine System Hypopituitarism is a disorder in which your
pituitary gland fails to produce one or more of its
hormones, or doesn't produce enough of them. A short
supply of one or more of these pituitary hormones
can affect any number of your body's routine
functions. While physicians rarely diagnose
hypopituitarism, they should be aware of the signs and symptoms that
characterize this disorder. The pituitary gland plays a major role in
the endocrine system, linking the endocrine system and the CNS. The pituitary is a small bean-shaped gland
located at the base of your brain, somewhat behind
your nose and between your ears. It's part of your
endocrine system, which consists of glands that
produce hormones that regulate processes throughout
your body. Besides the pituitary gland, the
endocrine system includes the thyroid gland,
parathyroid glands, adrenal glands, pancreas,
ovaries (in females) and testicles (in men).
Treatment
Successful treatment of the underlying condition causing hypopituitarism
may lead to a complete or partial recovery of your body's normal
production of pituitary hormones. The usual treatment for pituitary
tumors is surgery to remove the growth. In some instances, doctors also
recommend radiation treatment.
If hormone deficiencies persist after treatment, then you'll need
prescriptions of one or more hormone-replacement medications. These
drugs are considered as "replacement" rather than treatment, because the
dosages are set to match the amounts that your body would normally
manufacture if it didn't have a pituitary problem. Treatment is usually
lifelong.
Hormone-replacement medications may include:
If you've become infertile, preparations containing LH and FSH, also called gonadotropins, can be administered by injection to stimulate ovulation in women and sperm production in men. Use of hormone-replacement drugs rarely causes complications. To help reduce any drug-related risks, an endocrinologist, a doctor who specializes in endocrine disorders, may regularly monitor the levels of these hormones in your blood. Generally, your hormone levels are checked every few weeks or months at the beginning of treatment, and eventually every year. An endocrinologist may want to adjust your dosage if you become seriously ill or experience major physical stress. During these times, your body would ordinarily produce extra cortisol hormone. The same kind of fine-tuning of dosage may be necessary when you have the flu, experience diarrhea or vomiting, or have surgery or dental procedures. Adjustments in dosage may also be necessary during pregnancy or with marked changes in weight. You may need periodic CT or MRI scans as well to monitor a pituitary tumor or other diseases causing the hypopituitarism. Wear a medical alert bracelet or pendant, and carry a special card, notifying others — in emergency situations, for example — that you're taking corticosteroids and other medications. The long-term outlook for people with hypopituitarism is usually excellent once treatment begins. The signs and symptoms of this disease should disappear once you're taking hormone-replacement medications. Hypopituitarism > 1 > 2 > 3 > 4
Related Site: Treatments Treatments Programs:
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