Jain Ankur, Dhanwal Dinesh K
Post Graduate Student, Department of Medicine, Maulana Azad Medical College , Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, Delhi, India .
Director Professor, Department of Medicine, Maulana Azad Medical College , Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, Delhi, India .
J Clin Diagn Res. 2015 Feb;9(2):OD09-10. doi: 10.7860/JCDR/2015/11618.5574. Epub 2015 Feb 1.
Autoimmune hypophysitis is a rare cause of pan-hypopituitarism. Hypothalamic involvement in autoimmune hypophysitis is rare and usually manifests as central diabetes insipidus due to antibodies against arginine vasopressin. Temperature dysregulation is occasionally seen with suprasellar tumours but has never been reported with hypophysitis. We report a case of a middle aged man who presented to us with the complaints of documented body temperature fluctuations since two months followed gradually by hoarseness of voice, sexual dysfunction and syncope. Examination was remarkable for postural hypotension, dry coarse skin and delayed ankle reflexes. Patient's hormone profile revealed pan-hypopituitarism and elevated titre of anti-TPO antibodies. Patient's work up for secondary causes of hypopituitarism was negative. MRI brain revealed typical findings of hypophysitis. Patient was suspected as a case of autoimmune hypophysitis and was immediately treated with prednisolone along with hormone replacement. Rapid response within 30 days was observed in the form of subsidence of temperature fluctuations, improvement in general well being, sexual function and repeat MRI done after one month which revealed a partial empty sella. Autoimmune hypophysitis as a potentially treatable cause of temperature dysregulation has been highlighted in this case.
自身免疫性垂体炎是全垂体功能减退的罕见病因。下丘脑受累于自身免疫性垂体炎较为罕见,通常表现为由于抗精氨酸加压素抗体导致的中枢性尿崩症。体温调节异常偶尔可见于鞍上肿瘤,但垂体炎从未有过相关报道。我们报告一例中年男性,自两个月前出现有记录的体温波动,随后逐渐出现声音嘶哑、性功能障碍和晕厥。检查发现明显的体位性低血压、皮肤干燥粗糙和踝反射延迟。患者的激素检查显示全垂体功能减退且抗甲状腺过氧化物酶抗体滴度升高。患者垂体功能减退继发原因的检查结果为阴性。脑部磁共振成像显示垂体炎的典型表现。患者被怀疑为自身免疫性垂体炎,并立即接受泼尼松龙治疗及激素替代治疗。在30天内观察到快速反应,表现为体温波动消退、总体健康状况改善、性功能改善,且一个月后复查磁共振成像显示部分空蝶鞍。本病例突出了自身免疫性垂体炎作为体温调节异常潜在可治疗病因的情况。