What Causes Hypopituitarism?

Hypopituitarism is a disorder when the pituitary gland, located between the ears at the base of the brain, does not produce enough of its hormones or does not produce one or more of its hormones at all. This gland is often called the master gland because it manages the functions of most other endocrine glands in the body. The pituitary gland does this by producing hormones such as adrenocorticotropic hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, growth hormone, prolactin, and antidiuretic hormone. When an individual with hypopituitarism is unable to produce one of these hormones, it results in the loss of function or decreased function of the organ or gland it manages. Some individuals may experience symptoms of hypopituitarism gradually, while others will experience them suddenly. The symptoms a patient will experience depends on which hormone(s) are affected. The causes of hypopituitarism vary from genetic factors to other medical conditions like an infection.

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Pituitary Tumors

Pituitary tumors are abnormal growths of cells that occur in the pituitary gland. These tumors cannot spread to other regions or organs of the body. However, benign tumors in the pituitary gland can result in numerous issues because they can invade nearby tissues in the brain. A pituitary adenoma is a noncancerous tumor that does not spread past the skull. There are two types of pituitary adenomas. A microadenoma is a tumor smaller than a centimeter in diameter. Microadenomas often cause problems with the production of certain hormones, but they rarely damage tissues nearby. Macroadenomas are pituitary tumors larger than a centimeter in diameter. Microadenomas and macroadenomas considered non-functional are the most common types associated with hypopituitarism. As the tumor increases in size, it has the potential to press on and squeeze pituitary tissues around it. This compression results in interference of hormone production. Although it is rare, a cancerous pituitary tumor is called a pituitary carcinoma, and these tumors may or may not cause issues with pituitary hormone production.

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Hypophysitis

Hypophysitis is a condition where the pituitary gland or pituitary stalk becomes inflamed. This can result in any degree of pituitary gland failure that manifests as hypopituitarism. It is believed hypophysitis occurs due to an abnormal response of the immune system that causes it to attack its own healthy pituitary tissues. This attack causes a decrease in the production of several hormones that are the responsibility of the pituitary gland. Often, there will be a reduction in the production of the antidiuretic hormone that results in symptoms such as increased urination and excessive thirst. Another commonly affected hormone in patients with hypophysitis is the thyroid-stimulation hormone. A decrease in the production of this hormone will result in symptoms such as constipation, sensitivity to cold, muscle weakness, decreased energy, weight gain, and constipation. Some cases of hypophysitis will cause a decrease in nearly all of the hormones the pituitary gland is responsible for producing. Such cases will be difficult to diagnose because hypophysitis and the resulting hypopituitarism will produce various symptoms due to the malfunction of numerous glands throughout the body.

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