Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (14)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by TAYAL, S. C.
Right arrow Articles by CHADHA, D. K.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by TAYAL, S. C.
Right arrow Articles by CHADHA, D. K.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

© 1994 Oxford University Press

research-article

Hypopituitarism: A Difficult Diagnosis in Elderly People but worth a Search

SARUP C. TAYAL, SUSHIL K. BANSAL and DINESH K. CHADHA

Department of Geriatric Medicine, Sunderland District General Hospital Kayall Road, Sunderland SR2 7TP
Present address: Department of Medicine for the Elderly, Tickhill Road Hospital Balby, Doncaster DN4 8QL

Address correspondence to Dr S. C. Tayal, 21 Angram Drive, Grange Town, Sunderland SR2 7RD

Hypopituitarisni is uncommon in elderly people. We report 12 cases of hypopituitarism diagnosed after the age of 60 (range 63–89, mean 74.9) years over a 10-year period. Aetiology was evident in eight cases, viz, pituitary tumour in six and previous post-partum haemorrhage and giant aneurysm of carotid artery in one each. The presentation was often non-specific with symptoms such as lethargy, pallor, falls, urinary incontinence, confusion, fever and flexion contractures. Subtle clues to the condition were missed in four cases resulting in delayed diagnosis. Although levels of pituitary trophic hormones are generally low in this condition, the thyrotrophin (TSH) was normal in seven cases in the present series. Normal levels of serum sodium and potassium did not exclude cortisol deficiency. Hormone replacement therapy resulted in improved quality of life. Physicians dealing with elderly patients should bear this easily treated condition in mind.

Received December 30, 1993;
Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Eur J EndocrinolHome page
G. Minniti, V. Esposito, M. Piccirilli, A. Fratticci, A. Santoro, and M.-L. Jaffrain-Rea
Diagnosis and management of pituitary tumours in the elderly: a review based on personal experience and evidence of literature
Eur. J. Endocrinol., December 1, 2005; 153(6): 723 - 735.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer:
Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.