| Autoimmune hypophysitis |
| Classification and external resources |
| DiseasesDB |
34426 |
Autoimmune hypophysitis or Lymphocytic hypophysitis is defined as inflammation of the pituitary gland due to autoimmunity.
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Contents
- 1 Signs and symptoms
- 2 Diagnosis
- 3 Epidemiology
- 4 History
- 5 See also
- 6 References
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Signs and symptoms
The symptoms depend on what part of the pituitary is affected. Lymphocytic adenohypophysitis (LAH) is when the anterior pituitary cells are affected by autoimmune inflammation resulting in either no symptoms, adrenal insufficiency (if the ACTH producing cells are affected), hypothyroidism (if the TSH producing cells are damaged), or hypogonadism (if the LH and/or FSH producing cells are involved). In some cases, the presence of inflammation within the pituitary gland leads to interruption of dopamine flow from the hypothalamus into the pituitary causing high levels of the hormone prolactin and, often as a consequence, milk production from the breasts (in older girls and women). Lymphocytic Infundibuloneurohypophysitis (LINH) is when the posterior pituitary is affected resulting in diabetes insipidus. Both LAH and LINH may also lead to symptoms of an intracranial mass such as headache or disturbance of vision, i.e. bitemporal hemianopia. The pituitary produces multiple hormones relating to various metabolic functions. Sufficiently low production of certain pituitary hormones can be fatal resulting in the failure of the thyroid or adrenal glands.
It is estimated that, typically, it takes from 12 to 40 years for autoimmune destruction to present symptoms.[1] However, there have been cases of isolated attacks as a result of drug reactions (i.e., use of blocking antibody ipilimumab) [2][3] or idiopathic events that have presented symptoms which may disappear after relatively short term treatment (i.e., 1 year on corticoids or other immune suppressants).[4] However, more rapid development of the disorder is the rule when it occurs during, or shortly after, pregnancy (even after miscarriage or abortion). Indeed, autoimmune hypophysitis occurs more commonly during and shortly after pregnancy than at any other time. [5]
Antibodies
80% of patients with pituitary antibodies also have antibodies to thyroid gland or its hormones.[1] Likewise, 20% of autoimmune thyroid patients also have pituitary antibodies.[6] It follows that a subset of thyroid patients may have a disease related to autoimmune hypophysitis. Recent research has focused on a defect at the CTLA-4 gene which, coupled with other factors, may result in pan-autoimmunity primarily focusing on certain endocrine glands including the pituitary and thyroid.[1]
Diagnosis
Biopsy is the only means of accurate diagnosis as no autoantigen has been discovered.[6][7] Biopsy of the pituitary gland is not easily performed with safety as it sits under the brain, however, a test does exist to detect antibodies to the pituitary without biopsy: autoantibodies to M(r) 49,000 pituitary cytosolic protein may represent markers for an immunological process affecting the pituitary gland.[1] Tests for normal pituitary gland hormone production tend to be expensive and in some cases difficult to administer. In addition, certain hormone levels vary largely throughout the day and in response to metabolic factors making abnormal levels difficult to calibrate - further hampering diagnosis.[8]
Epidemiology
A large scale study on cadavers done in Sweden, performed biopsies on hundreds of pituitary glands. The study indicated that perhaps as much as 5% of the population experiences some amount of autoimmune pituitary destruction. It is further hypothesized that perhaps half that many show, or may experience, clinical manifestations.
History
Autoimmune attack of the pituitary gland resulting in reduced hormone production was first discovered as a result of an autopsy in 1962. The autopsy described destruction of the pituitary and thyroid consistent with autoimmune attack and included atrophy of the adrenal glands.[9] As Magnetic Resonance Imaging became more available diagnosis increased dramatically.[9] At this time it is believed that the disease is far more prevalent than is diagnosed.[6] Nevertheless, autoimmune hypophysitis is frequently referred to as a rare disease and estimates as to its prevalence vary.[1]
See also
- Hypophysitis
- Pituitary disease
- Hypopituitarism
References
- ^ a b c d e Strömberg, S., Crock, P., Lernmark, A., Hulting, A.L., (1998). "Pituitary autoantibodies in patients with hypopituitarism and their relatives". J. Endocrinol. 157 (3): 475–80. doi:10.1677/joe.0.1570475. PMID 9691980. http://joe.endocrinology-journals.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=9691980.
- ^ Phan, G.Q., Yang, J.C., Sherry, R.M., et al., (2003). "Cancer regression and autoimmunity induced by cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 blockade in patients with metastatic melanoma". Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 100 (14): 8372–7. doi:10.1073/pnas.1533209100. PMC 166236. PMID 12826605. http://www.pnas.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=12826605.
- ^ Hepatitis Weekley, Autoimmune Diseases, "Cytotoxic Antigen Induces Hypophysitis in Cancer Patients," 2006-1-9;
see also, Weston, S.N., Weston, C.F., (January 2000). "The mysterious case of the lost pituitary: amiodarone-induced hypothyroidism". Hosp Med 61 (1): 64–5. PMID 10735160.
- ^ Minakshi, B., Alok S., Hillol, K.P., (2005). "Lymphocytic hypophysitis presenting as pituitary apoplexy in a male". Neurol India 53 (3): 363–4. doi:10.4103/0028-3886.16948. PMID 16230817. http://www.neurologyindia.com/article.asp?issn=0028-3886;year=2005;volume=53;issue=3;spage=363;epage=364;aulast=Minakshi.
- ^ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21592417
- ^ a b c Caturegli, P., (2007). "Autoimmune hypophysitis: an underestimated disease in search of its autoantigen(s)". J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 92 (6): 2038–40. doi:10.1210/jc.2007-0808. PMID 17554056. http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=17554056.
- ^ Crock, Patricia A., et al., Pituitary autoantibodies, Neuroendocrinology, Current Opinion in Endocrinology & Diabetes, 13(4):344-350, August 2006.
- ^ See, e.g., Soule, S.G., Fahie-Wilson, M., and Tomlinson, S., (February 1996). "Failure of the short ACTH test to unequivocally diagnose long-standing symptomatic secondary hypoadrenalism". Clin. Endocrinol. (Oxf) 44 (2): 137–40. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2265.1996.540363.x. PMID 8849565.
- Maghnie, M., Uga, E., Temporini, F., et al., (May 2005). "Evaluation of adrenal function in patients with growth hormone deficiency and hypothalamic-pituitary disorders: comparison between insulin-induced hypoglycemia, low-dose ACTH, standard ACTH and CRH stimulation tests". Eur. J. Endocrinol. 152 (5): 735–41. doi:10.1530/eje.1.01911. PMID 15879359. http://eje-online.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=15879359.
- von Werder, Klaus, MD, FRCP, and Clayton, Richard, MD, FRCP, Evaluation of Patients with Pituitary/ Hypothalamic Space Occupying Lesions, in Pituitary-Hypothalamic Tumor Syndromes: Adults, Chapter 11b, 2006-8-10;
- Maghnie, M., Aimaretti, G., Bellone, S., et al., (April 2005). "Diagnosis of GH deficiency in the transition period: accuracy of insulin tolerance test and insulin-like growth factor-I measurement". Eur. J. Endocrinol. 152 (4): 589–96. doi:10.1530/eje.1.01873. PMID 15817915. http://eje-online.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=15817915.
- Biller, B.M., Samuels, M.H., Zagar, A., et al., (May 2002). "Sensitivity and specificity of six tests for the diagnosis of adult GH deficiency". J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 87 (5): 2067–79. doi:10.1210/jc.87.5.2067. PMID 11994342. http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=11994342.
- see also, "Health Alert: Adrenal Crisis Causes Death in Some People Who Were Treated with hGH," NIH, Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases Information Service.
- ^ a b Caturegli, Patrizio, and Tzou, Shey-Cherng, Hypophysitis, in Rose, Noel R., and Mack, Ian R., The Autoimmune diseases, chap. 40, at pg. 548.
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Endocrine pathology: endocrine diseases (E00–E35, 240–259)
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Pancreas/
glucose
metabolism |
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Hypofunction
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Diabetes mellitus
types: (type 1, type 2, MODY 1 2 3 4 5 6) · complications (coma, angiopathy, ketoacidosis, nephropathy, neuropathy, retinopathy, cardiomyopathy)
insulin receptor (Rabson–Mendenhall syndrome) · Insulin resistance
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Hyperfunction
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Hypoglycemia · beta cell (Hyperinsulinism) · G cell (Zollinger–Ellison syndrome)
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Hypothalamic/
pituitary axes |
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Hypothalamus
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gonadotropin (Kallmann syndrome, Adiposogenital dystrophy) · CRH (Tertiary adrenal insufficiency) · vasopressin (Neurogenic diabetes insipidus) · general (Hypothalamic hamartoma)
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Pituitary
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Hyperpituitarism
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anterior (Acromegaly, Hyperprolactinaemia, Pituitary ACTH hypersecretion) · posterior (SIADH) · general (Nelson's syndrome)
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Hypopituitarism
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anterior (Kallmann syndrome, Growth hormone deficiency, ACTH deficiency/Secondary adrenal insufficiency, GnRH insensitivity, FSH insensitivity, LH/hCG insensitivity) · posterior (Neurogenic diabetes insipidus) · general (Empty sella syndrome, Pituitary apoplexy, Sheehan's syndrome, Lymphocytic hypophysitis)
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Thyroid
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Hypothyroidism
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Iodine deficiency · Cretinism (Congenital hypothyroidism) · Myxedema · Euthyroid sick syndrome
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Hyperthyroidism
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Hyperthyroxinemia (Thyroid hormone resistance, Familial dysalbuminemic hyperthyroxinemia) · Hashitoxicosis · Thyrotoxicosis factitia · Graves' disease
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Thyroiditis
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Acute infectious · Subacute (De Quervain's, Subacute lymphocytic) · Autoimmune/chronic (Hashimoto's, Postpartum, Riedel's)
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Goitre
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Endemic goitre · Toxic nodular goitre · Toxic multinodular goiter
Thyroid nodule
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Parathyroid
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Hypoparathyroidism
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Hypoparathyroidism · Pseudohypoparathyroidism · Pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism
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Hyperparathyroidism
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Primary · Secondary · Tertiary · Osteitis fibrosa cystica
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Adrenal
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Hyperfunction
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aldosterone: Hyperaldosteronism/Primary aldosteronism (Conn syndrome, Bartter syndrome, Glucocorticoid remediable aldosteronism) · AME · Liddle's syndrome · 17α CAH
cortisol: Cushing's syndrome (Pseudo-Cushing's syndrome)
sex hormones: 21α CAH · 11β CAH
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Hypofunction/
Adrenal insufficiency
(Addison's, WF) |
aldosterone: Hypoaldosteronism (21α CAH, 11β CAH)
cortisol: CAH (Lipoid, 3β, 11β, 17α, 21α)
sex hormones: 17α CAH
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Gonads
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ovarian: Polycystic ovary syndrome · Premature ovarian failure
testicular: enzymatic (5α-reductase deficiency, 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deficiency, aromatase excess syndrome) · Androgen receptor (Androgen insensitivity syndrome)
general: Hypogonadism (Delayed puberty) · Hypergonadism (Precocious puberty) · Hypoandrogenism · Hypoestrogenism · Hyperandrogenism · Hyperestrogenism
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| Height |
Gigantism · Dwarfism/Short stature (Laron syndrome, Psychosocial)
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| Multiple |
Autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome (APS1, APS2) · Carcinoid syndrome · Multiple endocrine neoplasia (1, 2A, 2B) · Progeria (Werner syndrome, Acrogeria, Metageria) · Woodhouse-Sakati syndrome
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noco(d)/cong/tumr, sysi/epon
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proc, drug (A10/H1/H2/H3/H5)
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Immune disorders: hypersensitivity and autoimmune diseases (279.5–6)
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Type I/allergy/atopy
(IgE) |
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Foreign
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Atopic dermatitis · Allergic urticaria · Hay fever · Allergic asthma · Anaphylaxis · Food allergy (Milk, Egg, Peanut, Tree nut, Seafood, Soy, Wheat), Penicillin allergy
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Autoimmune
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none
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Type II/ADCC
(IgM, IgG) |
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Foreign
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Pernicious anemia · Hemolytic disease of the newborn
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Autoimmune
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Cytotoxic
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Autoimmune hemolytic anemia · Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura · Bullous pemphigoid · Pemphigus vulgaris · Rheumatic fever · Goodpasture's syndrome
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"Type 5"/receptor
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Graves' disease · Myasthenia gravis
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Type III
(Immune complex) |
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Foreign
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Henoch–Schönlein purpura · Hypersensitivity vasculitis · Reactive arthritis · Farmer's lung · Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis · Serum sickness · Arthus reaction
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Autoimmune
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Systemic lupus erythematosus · Subacute bacterial endocarditis · Rheumatoid arthritis
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Type IV/cell-mediated
(T-cells) |
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Foreign
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Allergic contact dermatitis · Mantoux test
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Autoimmune
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Diabetes mellitus type 1 · Hashimoto's thyroiditis · Guillain–Barré syndrome · Multiple sclerosis · Coeliac disease · Giant-cell arteritis
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GVHD
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Transfusion-associated graft versus host disease
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Unknown/
multiple |
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Foreign
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Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis) · Transplant rejection · Latex allergy (I+IV)
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Autoimmune
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Sjögren's syndrome · Autoimmune hepatitis · Autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome (APS1, APS2) · Autoimmune adrenalitis · Systemic autoimmune disease
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cell/phys/auag/auab/comp, igrc
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