Hypopituitarism may present with loss of anterior or posterior pituitary hormones. The loss of anterior pituitary hormones is usually partial and occurs in the order:
- Growth hormone deficiency:
- pituitary dwarfism in children - diminished skeletal growth, retarded sexual development, normal intelligence, hypoglycaemic episodes
- wrinkling of skin, tendency to hypoglycaemia in adults
- Gonadotrophin deficiency:
- delay in puberty in children
- amenorrhoea, impotency, loss of libido in adults
- TSH deficiency:
- isolated TSH deficiency is very rare
- secondary hypothyroidism - sensitivity to cold, dry skin, physical and mental sluggishness, coarseness of hair
- ACTH deficiency:
- decreased skin pigmentation
- poor apetite, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, muscle weakness, loss of axillary and pubic hair in females
- Prolactin deficiency:
- failure of lactation in post-partum patients
Loss of posterior pituitary hormones: