Fatigue and hyponatremia in a 75-year-old woman: unusual presentation of hypophysitis

Experimental and Clinical Endocrinology & Diabetes : Official Journal, German Society of Endocrinology [and] German Diabetes Association
J KleinHorst L Fehm

Abstract

A 75-year-old woman presented with general fatigue progressing to somnolence. Laboratory tests showed marked hyponatremia. TSH in the normal range, but low levels of free T3 and free T4. Evaluation of pituitary hormones and magnetic resonance imaging of the pituitary unmasked findings characteristic for hypophysitis with secondary adrenal insufficiency and secondary hypothyroidism. Hormonal substitution with hydrocortisone and levothyroxine resulted in rapid improvement of all symptoms and signs. Without additional treatment shrinkage of the pituitary gland could be documented. Our report extends the known clinical and pathological spectrum of hypophysitis and illustrates the need to include this uncommon entity in the differential diagnosis of hyponatremia even in elderly patients.

Citations

Jan 27, 2007·Aging Clinical and Experimental Research·Neslihan Kurtulmus, Sema Yarman
Jan 1, 2014·Journal of Clinical Medicine·Kevin M Pantalone, Betul A Hatipoglu

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Addison Disease

Addison's disease, also known as primary adrenal insufficiency and hypocortisolism, is a long-term endocrine disorder in which the adrenal glands do not produce enough steroid hormones. Discover the latest research on Addison's disease here.

Related Papers

Experimental and Clinical Endocrinology & Diabetes : Official Journal, German Society of Endocrinology [and] German Diabetes Association
W MunzK Pollow
© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved