Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Hypopituitarism is characterized by the absence of pituitary hormones. Depending on what pituitary hormones are missing and what is the etiology of hypopituitarism, its clinical manifestation varies. Apart from evident symptoms and signs of hypopituitarism due to hormonal insufficiencies, several studies reveal that long-standing hypopituitarism, including particularly absence of GH, is related to higher risk of metabolic syndrome.

Objective: The aim of the study was to asses the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in patients with long-standing pituitary hormones deficiency who receive adequate supplemental therapy, including GH treatment.

Material and methods: 12 patients (5 males, 7 females), aged 18–40 years, with hypopituitarism who did receive GH supplemental therapy under the care of Chair and Department of Endocrinology Medical University of Lublin (Poland) from 01.01.2011 to 31.12.2015 were enrolled into the study. 9 patients had panhypopituitarism, 2 patients had isolated GH deficiency, 1 patient had deficiency of GH and gonadotropins. The recognition of MS among examined patients was based on criteria of IDF/NHLBI/AHA-2009.

Results: 5 patients (41.7%) met criteria of metabolic syndrome. All these patients had panhypopituitarism with diabetes insipidus diagnosed in 4 of them. The 4 patients with diabetes insipidus had the most severe obesity. None of the patients with isolated GH deficiency or with GH and gonadotropins and GH deficiency met MS criteria.

Conclusion: Despite adequate supplemental therapy, panhypopituitarism is a risk factor of obesity and MS suggesting the role of other factors (hypothalamic leisure?) in the development of the above metabolic complications.