Unraveling the Mysteries of Pituitary Disorders
The thyroid produces hormones that are vital for the body to function and keep the metabolism working well. This can impact the energy a person has throughout the day as well as one’s weight, and heart rate. A problem with the thyroid can affect the entire body, leading to severe health complications, if left unchecked.
- Growth Hormones (GH): Stimulating growth and cell regeneration.
- Thyroid Stimulating Hormones (TSH): Crucial in metabolic function.
- Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH): Regulating the adrenal gland function.
- Follicle stimulating Hormone and Luteinizing Hormone (FSH and LH): Regulation of reproductive organ function for both males and females.
- Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH): Regulates water balance required to maintain blood pressure and other cellular functions.
- Prolactin: Stimulating milk production during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
There has to be a perfect harmony of balance between
the target endocrine glans and pituitary hormones.
This imbalance can profoundly affect the body’s function, leading to various health issues depending on the extent of the imbalance.
Here’s a breakdown of the potential consequences of both excess and deficiency of some pituitary hormones:
- Acromegaly (Excessive GH): Abnormal growth in bone and tissue.
- Cushing’s Disease (Excessive ACTH): ACTH overstimulates adrenal glands, causing weight gain, high blood pressure, and prediabetic symptoms.
- Hyperprolactinemia (excess of prolactin): Can cause infertility, galactorrhoea, and gynecomastia (breast growth in men)
- Dwarfism (Deficient GH): Insufficient Growth Hormones during childhood leading to slower-than-normal growth.
- Insufficient TSH: Causing an underactive thyroid gland, leading to slowed metabolism.
- Deficiency in FSH and LH can cause lower estrogen and testosterone levels, thus causing infertility, reduced sexual drive, and osteoporosis.
A common cause of these hormone imbalances is pituitary adenomas (tumors). Depending on the nature of the growth, these tumors may drive or inhibit the production of pituitary hormones. In Singapore, more than ~40% of diagnosed pituitary tumors are prolactin-secreting tumors, also known as prolactinomas. Often noncancerous, prolactinomas specifically involve the overproduction of the hormone prolactin, leading to excessive prolactin production, which leads to disruptions of the menstrual cycle for women.
If these tumors grow in size, they can affect the visual field or pressure on cranial nerves. If there is bleeding inside, these tumors can cause acute vision loss, headaches, and acute fatal hormonal deficiency.
Treatment and diagnostic options for pituitary disorders are diverse and tailored to the specific condition. Medications, surgery to remove tumors, and radiation therapy are common approaches, with ongoing monitoring crucial for adjusting treatment plans.
Visit Harmony Thyroid, Endocrinology and Diabates Centre today for a comprehensive assessment of your pituitary gland health and a personalized treatment plan to improve your quality of life.
References:
- Mansour AA, Alhamza AHA, Almomin AMSA, et al. Spectrum of Pituitary disorders: A retrospective study from Basrah, Iraq. F1000Research. 2018;7:430. doi: https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.13632.2
- Rajini Kanth R. Yatavelli, Kamal Bhusal. Prolactinoma. Nih.gov. Published November 18, 2018. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459347/
- Russ S, Shafiq I. Pituitary Adenoma. PubMed. Published 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554451/
