Anterior Pituitary Hormones and Disorders

Disorders of Anterior PituitaryAldosteronism Clinical features Causes and Treatment. Read more ... »Hormones

The anterior pituitary is called the master gland be­ , it regulates the function of most other endocrineAldosteronism Clinical features Causes and Treatment. Read more ... » organs.

The anterior pituitary gla’nd produces 6 major hor­mones.

1. 1, Prolactin (PRL)
2. 2. Growth hormone (GH)
3. 3. Adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTHACTH and TSH DEFICIENCY Diagnosis with Treatment. Read more ... »)
4. 4. Luteinizing hormone (LH)
5. 5. Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
6. 6. ThyroidMyxedema coma Diagnosis and Treatment. Read more ... » stimulating hormone (TSHACTH and TSH DEFICIENCY Diagnosis with Treatment. Read more ... »).

• All the pituitary hormones are secreted in a pulsatile manner by the corresponding specific hypothalamicHypothalamic, Pituitary And Other Sellar Masses. Read more ... » releasing factors.
• Each pituitary hormone causesCestodes Tape Worms Taenia Saginata & Solium cysticercii neurocysticercosis Diagnosis Treatment. Read more ... » specific response from the target organ / issues.
• Pituitary diseases can cause acquired or inherited hormone deficiency.
• Pituitary tumorsHypothalamic, Pituitary And Other Sellar Masses. Read more ... » cause hormone excess syndromeMetabolic,Insulin Resistance Syndrome X Causes Symptoms. Read more ... » or they cause a mass effect by pressing on adjacent structures like cavernous sinuses, optic chiasma and ._ cranial nerves, and blood vessels.
• The pituitary gland has 2 lobes-anterior and poste­rior lobes.
• The posterior pituitary is also called neurohypophy­sis,
• These target organs / glands release hormones which exert a feedback inhibition on the hypothalamus and pituitary to control the bjood level of the hormones.

ANTERIOR PITUITARY IN­SUFFICIENCY

• · HypopituitarismHypopituitarism Diagnosis and Treatment. Read more ... » is due to decreased levels of anterior pituitary trophic hormones released from the hypothalamus.
• · It can also occur due to inherited diseases.
• · Acquired deficiency can result from tumors, in­flammation or vascular damage of pituitary or hypothalamus.

Developmental and genetic causes: Pituitary dysplasia -

• This is due to hypoplastic or ectopic pituitary gland.
• It can also be due to birth trauma, asphyxia and breech delivery.

Examples are:

• · Septo-optic dysplasia (hypothalamic dysfunction, cleft palate, syndactyly, ear deformity, optic at­rophy, microgenitals, anosmia).
• · Kallmann syndrome (isolated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, associated with defects of smell, X-linked).
• · Laurence-Moon-Bardet-Bidel Syndrome (autoso­mal recessive, mental retardation, obesityMyxedema coma Diagnosis and Treatment. Read more ... », hexadactyly, syndactyly, diabetes insipidusDiabetic Nephropathy and Renal complications of DM (Diabetes Mellitus). Read more ... », reti­nal degeneration).
• · Frohlich syndrome (Hypothalamic lesions, obe­sity, hyperphagia-Ieptin deficiency, hypogo­nadism).
• · Prader-Willi Syndrome (hypogonadotropic hy­pogonadism, obesity, hypotonia, mental retar­dation, diabetes mellitusHyperglycemic Hyperosmolar State (HHS) Acute Complication Of DM. Read more ... »).

Acquired Hypopituitarism

• Acquired causes are accidental, or neurosurgical trauma.
• Vascular causes like pituitary apoplexy. Neoplasms like pituitary adenoma, craniopharyn­gioma, metastatic tumors.
• Inflammatory diseases like sarcoidosisSarcoidosis Causes Diagnosis Symptoms and Treatment. Read more ... », amyloido­sis, tuberculosisLeprosy Hansen's Disease types Causes of leprosy sign and Symptoms With Treatment. Read more ... », and irradiation.

Pituitary apoplexy

• AcuteCestodes Tape Worms Taenia Saginata & Solium cysticercii neurocysticercosis Diagnosis Treatment. Read more ... » haemorrhagic damage of pituitary may occur spontaneously in a pre-existing adenoma, or post­partum as in Sheehan’s syndrome, or in diabetes, hypertensionGlycogen Storage Diseases von Gierke disease, Andersen's disease, McArdle's disease. Read more ... », sickle cellHemoglobinopathies Sickle cell Thalssemia Diagnosis Treatment. Read more ... » anaemia, or acute shockShock Presentation Risk Factors Pathogenesis Management Treatment. Read more ... ».
• During pregnancy there is enlargement of the pitu­itary, sometimes resulting in haemorrhage. Apoplexy is an emergency with hypotensionDiabetic Nephropathy and Renal complications of DM (Diabetes Mellitus). Read more ... », hypoglycemia, brain haemorrhage and death.
• There is severe headacheHeadache. Read more ... », meningeal irritation, vi­sual defects, cardiovascular collapseCardiac Arrest Causes Symptoms Features and Management. Read more ... », coma and death. CT or MRI is used for diagnosisCestodes Tape Worms Taenia Saginata & Solium cysticercii neurocysticercosis Diagnosis Treatment. Read more ... ».

TreatmentCestodes Tape Worms Taenia Saginata & Solium cysticercii neurocysticercosis Diagnosis Treatment. Read more ... » of Pituitary apoplexy

• High dose glucocorticoidsSome Facts about Glucocorticoid & Major side effects. Read more ... ».
• Surgical decompression is required in patients with visual loss and coma.