Pituitary apoplexy developing during pregnancy: escape from the verge of death

Objective: Pituitary apoplexy during pregnancy is extremely rare. Hypofunction of multiple glands due to pituitary hormone deficiency can be life threatening for the fetus and mother. A poorly functioning pituitary gland presents a variety of neurological and endocrinological symptoms, making it dif...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: H. Cokmez, C. Bayram
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IMR Press 2020-06-01
Series:Clinical and Experimental Obstetrics & Gynecology
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Online Access:https://www.imrpress.com/journal/CEOG/47/3/10.31083/j.ceog.2020.03.5257
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Summary:Objective: Pituitary apoplexy during pregnancy is extremely rare. Hypofunction of multiple glands due to pituitary hormone deficiency can be life threatening for the fetus and mother. A poorly functioning pituitary gland presents a variety of neurological and endocrinological symptoms, making it difficult to diagnose. The authors present a case of pituitary apoplexy in a 24-week pregnant woman who was not previously diagnosed with pituitary adenoma. Case Report: A 26-year-old woman who was 24 weeks into her first pregnancy presented with pituitary apoplexy, which included symptoms of increasing headache, nausea, vomiting, visual disturbances, and hypotensive attacks. With a multidisciplinary approach involving the departments of neurosurgery, endocrinology, gynaecology, and obstetrics, the patient underwent rapid replacement therapy and pituitary tumour excision. Pregnancy ended at the 39th week without any feto-maternal complication. Conclusion: Pituitary apoplexy developing during pregnancy is rare and, difficult to diagnose, and requires a multidisciplinary approach to achieve a successful outcome.
ISSN:0390-6663