The symptoms depend on what part of the pituitary is affected. Lymphocytic adenohypophysitis occurs when the anterior pituitary cells are affected by autoimmune inflammation resulting in either no symptoms, adrenal insufficiency, hypothyroidism, or hypogonadism. 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. Lymphocytic Infundibuloneurohypophysitis occurs 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. However, there have been cases of isolated attacks as a result of drug reactions or idiopathic events that have presented symptoms which may disappear after relatively short termtreatment. However, more rapid development of the disorder is the rule when it occurs during, or shortly after, pregnancy. Indeed, autoimmune hypophysitis occurs more commonly during and shortly after pregnancy than at any other time.
Antibodies
80% of patients with pituitary antibodies also have antibodies to thyroid gland or its hormones. Likewise, 20% of autoimmune thyroid patients also have pituitary antibodies. 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 autoimmunity primarily focusing on certain endocrine glands including the pituitary and thyroid.
Diagnosis
is the only means of accurate diagnosis as no autoantigen has been discovered. 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 49,000 pituitary cytosolic protein may represent markers for an immunological process affecting the pituitary gland. 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.
Treatment
Inflammation resolves usually after several months of glucocorticoid treatment
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
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. As magnetic resonance imaging became more available diagnosis increased dramatically. At this time it is believed that the disease is far more prevalent than is diagnosed. Nevertheless, autoimmune hypophysitis is frequently referred to as a rare disease and the most recent estimates as to its prevalence give it a value of around 5 per million.
