Remission of acromegaly after pituitary apoplexy: case report and review of literature

• Published in: Endocrine practice Vol. 15; no. 7; pp. 725 - 731
• Main Authors: Fraser, Lisa-Ann, Lee, Donald, Cooper, Paul, Van Uum, Stan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Limited 01.11.2009
• Subjects: Acromegaly - diagnosis; Acromegaly - pathology; Adult; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Pituitary Apoplexy - diagnosis; Pituitary Apoplexy - pathology; Remission, Spontaneous
• ISSN: 1530-891X; 1934-2403
• DOI: 10.4158/EP09126.CRR

To identify and present cases of acromegaly in which pituitary apoplexy resulted in remission of acromegaly, with normalization of insulinlike growth factor-I and growth hormone levels. We present a case history of a personal patient and review the related literature in PubMed and Ovid MEDLINE. A 34-year-old man with classic acromegaly had spontaneous pituitary apoplexy, resulting in remission of his acromegaly and diabetes. Moreover, we identified 21 other similar cases in the literature and analyze the clinical presentations, possible apoplexy triggers, and hormonal sequelae. All these patients were "cured" of acromegaly, and 68% of them experienced other pituitary hormone insufficiencies after pituitary apoplexy, including 2 cases of panhypopituitarism. Pituitary apoplexy can result in remission of acromegaly and in partial or complete anterior or posterior (or both) pituitary insufficiency. Thus, after suspected or confirmed pituitary apoplexy, pituitary hormone secretion must be reevaluated. This assessment may result in initiation of appropriate substitution therapy, a change in management of growth hormone overproduction, or both interventions.