Pituitary hypofunction

The endocrine system of the human body has a clear hierarchical structure, headed by the pituitary gland . It is a very small gland located in the posterior lower part of the brain. With insufficient production of hormones required for the functioning of the thyroid gland and normal activity of the entire endocrine system, hypothyroidism of the pituitary gland occurs. This pathology is not very common, but it negatively affects the condition of the body and its development.

Why there is hypofunction of the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland?

In medicine, the disorder in question is called hypopituitarism. Its main factors are the following factors:

1. Tumors. Any neoplasms present in the endocrine gland itself or next to it, have a destructive effect on the pituitary tissue, preventing the normal production of hormones.
2. Injuries. Open and closed craniocerebral injuries of the body are reflected on it similar to tumors.
3. Inflammatory diseases (syphilis, tuberculosis and others). Bacterial or viral granulomatous, purulent infections of the brain or its cortex often lead to irreversible damage to the pituitary tissues.
4. Vascular infarctions. Hemorrhages in the areas of the brain located next to the endocrine gland are fraught with acute disruption of its blood supply and hypoxia.
5. Chemical irradiation, surgical operations. External procedures affecting the brain area adjacent to the pituitary gland are detrimental to its functioning.

Rarely are cases of hereditary underdevelopment of the endocrine gland described.

Does hypophyseal hypofysis lead to the development of any disease?

Insufficient work of the body and a permanent deficit of hormones produced by it are fraught with very serious consequences:

1. Symmonds disease or pituitary cachexia. Pathology is accompanied by a rapid loss of body weight, a decrease in appetite, dryness, brittle and hair loss, weakness and apathy to what is happening. In advanced cases and in severe stages of the disease, the symptoms increase - the skin becomes dry and pale, dehydrated, heart rate and blood pressure decrease, the reproductive system completely stops, sexual organs are atrophied. The absence of treatment of the disease can lead to vascular collapse and death.
2. Pituitary Nanism. When hypothyroidism of the pituitary gland arises dwarfism or short stature, associated with inadequate production of endocrine glands of growth hormones. Pathology has a genetic origin, therefore it is diagnosed early, the backlog in physical development is observed already from 2-4 years. The disease is combined with a deficiency of luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormone.
3. Unsugar diabetes or diabetes insipidus. The disease is a lack of vasopressin - a substance that delays the body's fluid. In fact, with the development of the described disease, water passes through the urinary system: urine is released exactly as much as the patient drinks liquids (up to 5-6 liters per day).

Women sometimes have Shihan syndrome or a postpartum infarction of the pituitary gland. It occurs against the background of severe bleeding during abortion or childbirth. The fact is that in pregnancy the pituitary gland is filled with blood and greatly increases in size. If the outflow of biological fluid occurs too quickly, endocrine gland begins the death and destruction of cells, tissue necrosis.

Treatment of symptoms of pituitary hypofunction

Therapy of the described pathologies is developed by the endocrinologist individually for each patient. Usually it involves a rigid correction of the diet or strict adherence to diet and hormone replacement therapy, often lifelong.