A Case of Isolated ACTH Deficiency Who Developed Autoimmune-Mediated Hypothyroidism and Impaired Water Diuresis during Glucocorticoid Replacement Therapy

• Published in: ENDOCRINE JOURNAL Vol. 47; no. 6; pp. 667 - 674
• Main Author: Kageyama, Y
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese; English
• Published: Japan The Japan Endocrine Society 2000
• Subjects: Adrenal Insufficiency - etiology; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone - deficiency; Autoimmune Diseases - diagnosis; Blood; Diuresis; Female; Hormone Replacement Therapy; Humans; Hydrocortisone - blood; Hydrocortisone - therapeutic use; Hyponatremia - etiology; Hypothyroidism - diagnosis; Hypothyroidism - immunology; Middle Aged; Osmolar Concentration; Thyrotropin - blood; Thyroxine - blood; Triiodothyronine - blood; Urine; Vasopressins - blood
• ISSN: 0918-8959; 1348-4540
• DOI: 10.1507/endocrj.47.667

A case of isolated ACTH deficiency who developed autoimmune-mediated hypothyroidism and still showed impaired water diuresis during glucocorticoid replacement therapy is reported. A 45-year-old woman was initially admitted for nausea, vomiting, and general malaise. Her serum sodium and plasma osmolality, ACTH and cortisol values were low, but her urine osmolality was high. Other pituitary hormone levels, thyroid hormone levels, and a computed tomogram of the pituitary gland were normal. The patient was treated with hydrocortisone and followed in the outpatient clinic; however, she was lost to follow up 18 months after admission. Three years later she presented with hypoglycemia and hyponatremia. Her serum or plasma ACTH, FT3, FT4, cortisol levels were low and her serum TSH level was high. Pituitary stimulation tests revealed a blunted response of ACTH to CRH and an exaggerated response of TSH to TRH. Plasma ADH was inappropriately high, and a water-loading test revealed impaired water diuresis and poor suppression of ADH. Although ADH was suppressed, impaired water diuresis was observed in the water loading test after hydrocortisone supplementation. Thyroxine supplementation completely normalized the water diuresis. Her outpatient clinic medical records revealed a gradual increase in TSH levels during follow up, indicating that she had developed hypothyroidism during glucocorticoid replacement therapy. The hyponatremia on the first admission was due to glucocorticoid deficiency, whereas the hyponatremia on the second admission was due to combined deficiencies of glucocorticoid and thyroid hormones.