Pituitary necrosis and antiphospholipid syndrome

• Published in: Annales d'endocrinologie Vol. 70; no. 2; pp. 126 - 128
• Main Authors: Khochtali, I, Kacem, M, Kria, S, Golli, M, Mahjoub, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: French
• Published: France 01.04.2009
• Subjects: Adenoma - complications; Adenoma - pathology; Adult; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - therapeutic use; Antiphospholipid Syndrome - complications; Antiphospholipid Syndrome - pathology; Antiphospholipid Syndrome - therapy; Female; Hormones - blood; Humans; Hydrocortisone - therapeutic use; Hyperprolactinemia - blood; Hyperprolactinemia - etiology; Hypopituitarism - complications; Hypopituitarism - pathology; Hypopituitarism - therapy; Intracranial Hypertension - complications; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Necrosis; Neurosurgical Procedures; Pituitary Gland - pathology; Pituitary Neoplasms - complications; Pituitary Neoplasms - pathology; Stroke - etiology
• ISSN: 0003-4266
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ando.2008.09.004

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an acquired thrombotic disorder. It mainly occurs with systemic disease or as a primary disorder. All organs may be involved by thrombosis, but to date the most common endocrine manifestation is chronic adrenal insufficiency. Very few cases of hypopituitarism with primary APS have been reported. We report the case of a 27-year-old woman, victim of a stroke leading to double vision and intracranial hypertension. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a macro-adenoma with hemorrhage of a suprasellar lesion. Hormone assessment showed hyper prolactinemia with positive anticardiolipin antibody. Our case is the second reported associating APS with apoplexy. We discuss the clinical, biological and radiological features observed in our case. We conclude that APS should be searched for whenever a history of adenoma with apoplexy is found associated with recurrent thrombosis.