Wu Rongqian, Xu Jixiong
Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The 1st Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, People's Republic of China.
Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Endocrine and Metabolic Disease, Nanchang, People's Republic of China.
Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2024 Apr 16;17:1739-1747. doi: 10.2147/DMSO.S456678. eCollection 2024.
Pituitary stalk interruption syndrome is a relatively rare disease. Patients with this disease usually have different degrees of short stature in adulthood. The purpose of this case report is to highlight a special case of unusually elongated limbs with excessive height growth and congenital absence of uterus and ovary, so as to improve clinicians understanding of the atypical manifestations of pituitary stalk interruption syndrome and provide reference for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
The 30-year-old female patient exhibited disproportionate growth in height, with a significant increase from 140 cm at the age of 16 to 180 cm currently. Physical examination revealed widened bilateral eye fissures, underdeveloped secondary sexual characteristics, and absence of menstruation. The patient 's parents are cousins, belonging to consanguineous marriage. The patient 's hypoglycemia provocation test suggested the lack of growth hormone and cortisol. Gonadorelin provocation test suggested hypogonadism, and thyroid function test showed hypothyroidism. Pituitary MRI plain scan and enhancement suggested pituitary stalk interruption syndrome, and abdominal and urinary color Doppler ultrasound suggested no echo of uterus and bilateral appendages in the pelvic cavity. The karyotype of peripheral blood was 45, X[3] / 46, XX [117]. The patient was diagnosed with pituitary stalk interruption syndrome, congenital uterine and ovarian deficiency, bone overgrowth, hypothyroidism and secondary osteoporosis. During hospitalization, the symptoms were improved and discharged after hormone replacement therapy such as physiological dose of glucocorticoid, estradiol valerate tablets and levothyroxine sodium tablets. Now the patient is still in our hospital endocrinology outpatient follow-up, no special discomfort.
The patient had special clinical manifestations and was clinically confirmed as pituitary stalk interruption syndrome. The patient 's height continues to grow in the absence of growth hormone in the body, and its mechanism remains to be further studied.
垂体柄阻断综合征是一种相对罕见的疾病。该疾病患者成年后通常有不同程度的身材矮小。本病例报告的目的是突出一例四肢异常细长、身高过度增长且先天性子宫和卵巢缺如的特殊病例,以提高临床医生对垂体柄阻断综合征非典型表现的认识,并为该疾病的临床诊断和治疗提供参考。
该30岁女性患者身高增长比例失调,从16岁时的140厘米显著增长至目前的180厘米。体格检查发现双侧睑裂增宽,第二性征发育不全,且无月经。患者父母为表亲,属于近亲结婚。患者的低血糖激发试验提示生长激素和皮质醇缺乏。促性腺激素释放激素激发试验提示性腺功能减退,甲状腺功能检查显示甲状腺功能减退。垂体MRI平扫及增强提示垂体柄阻断综合征,腹部及泌尿系统彩色多普勒超声提示盆腔内子宫及双侧附件无回声。外周血核型为45,X[3]/46,XX[117]。患者被诊断为垂体柄阻断综合征、先天性子宫和卵巢缺如、骨骼过度生长、甲状腺功能减退及继发性骨质疏松。住院期间,经生理剂量糖皮质激素、戊酸雌二醇片及左甲状腺素钠片等激素替代治疗后症状改善并出院。目前患者仍在我院内分泌门诊随访,无特殊不适。
该患者有特殊临床表现,临床确诊为垂体柄阻断综合征。患者在体内缺乏生长激素的情况下身高仍持续增长,其机制有待进一步研究。