Autoimmune hypophysitis

Autoimmune hypophysitis is defined as inflammation of the pituitary gland due to autoimmunity.

Autoimmune hypophysitis
Other namesLymphocytic hypophysitis
SpecialtyEndocrinology

Signs and symptoms

The symptoms depend on what part of the pituitary is affected. Lymphocytic adenohypophysitis (LAH) occurs when the anterior pituitary cells are affected by autoimmune inflammation resulting in either no symptoms, adrenal insufficiency (if the ACTH producing cells are affected), hypothyroidism (if the TSH producing cells are damaged), or hypogonadism (if the LH and/or FSH producing cells are involved). In some cases, the presence of inflammation within the pituitary gland leads to interruption of dopamine flow from the hypothalamus into the pituitary causing high levels of the hormone prolactin and, often as a consequence, milk production from the breasts (in older girls and women). Lymphocytic Infundibuloneurohypophysitis (LINH) occurs when the posterior pituitary is affected resulting in diabetes insipidus. Both LAH and LINH may also lead to symptoms of an intracranial mass such as headache or disturbance of vision, i.e. bitemporal hemianopia. The pituitary produces multiple hormones relating to various metabolic functions. Sufficiently low production of certain pituitary hormones can be fatal resulting in the failure of the thyroid or adrenal glands.

It is estimated that, typically, it takes from 12 to 40 years for autoimmune destruction to present symptoms.[1] However, there have been cases of isolated attacks as a result of drug reactions (i.e., use of blocking antibody ipilimumab)[2][3] or idiopathic events that have presented symptoms which may disappear after relatively short term treatment (i.e., 1 year on corticoids or other immune suppressants).[4] However, more rapid development of the disorder is the rule when it occurs during, or shortly after, pregnancy (even after miscarriage or abortion). Indeed, autoimmune hypophysitis occurs more commonly during and shortly after pregnancy than at any other time.[5]

Antibodies

80% of patients with pituitary antibodies also have antibodies to thyroid gland or its hormones.[1] Likewise, 20% of autoimmune thyroid patients also have pituitary antibodies.[6] It follows that a subset of thyroid patients may have a disease related to autoimmune hypophysitis. Recent research has focused on a defect at the CTLA-4 gene which, coupled with other factors, may result in autoimmunity primarily focusing on certain endocrine glands including the pituitary and thyroid.[1]

Diagnosis

Biopsy is the only means of accurate diagnosis as no autoantigen has been discovered.[6][7] Biopsy of the pituitary gland is not easily performed with safety as it sits under the brain, however, a test does exist to detect antibodies to the pituitary without biopsy: autoantibodies to M(r) 49,000 pituitary cytosolic protein may represent markers for an immunological process affecting the pituitary gland.[1] Tests for normal pituitary gland hormone production tend to be expensive and in some cases difficult to administer. In addition, certain hormone levels vary largely throughout the day and in response to metabolic factors, making abnormal levels difficult to calibrate—further hampering diagnosis.[8][9][10][11][12][13]

Treatment

Inflammation resolves usually after several months of glucocorticoid treatment

Epidemiology

A large scale study on cadavers done in Sweden, performed biopsies on hundreds of pituitary glands. The study indicated that perhaps as much as 5% of the population experiences some amount of autoimmune pituitary destruction. It is further hypothesized that perhaps half that many show, or may experience, clinical manifestations.

History

Autoimmune attack of the pituitary gland resulting in reduced hormone production was first discovered as a result of an autopsy in 1962. The autopsy described destruction of the pituitary and thyroid consistent with autoimmune attack and included atrophy of the adrenal glands.[14] As magnetic resonance imaging became more available diagnosis increased dramatically.[14] At this time it is believed that the disease is far more prevalent than is diagnosed.[6] Nevertheless, autoimmune hypophysitis is frequently referred to as a rare disease and the most recent estimates as to its prevalence give it a value of around 5 per million.[15]

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See also

References
  1. Strömberg S, Crock P, Lernmark A, Hulting AL (1998). "Pituitary autoantibodies in patients with hypopituitarism and their relatives". J. Endocrinol. 157 (3): 475–80. doi:10.1677/joe.0.1570475. PMID 9691980.
  2. Phan GQ, Yang JC, Sherry RM, Hwu P, Topalian SL, Schwartzentruber DJ, Restifo NP, Haworth LR, Seipp CA, Freezer LJ, Morton KE, Mavroukakis SA, Duray PH, Steinberg SM, Allison JP, Davis TA, Rosenberg SA (2003). "Cancer regression and autoimmunity induced by cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 blockade in patients with metastatic melanoma". Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 100 (14): 8372–7. Bibcode:2003PNAS..100.8372P. doi:10.1073/pnas.1533209100. PMC 166236. PMID 12826605.
  3. Hepatitis Weekley, Autoimmune Diseases, "Cytotoxic Antigen Induces Hypophysitis in Cancer Patients," 2006-1-9;
    see also, Weston SN, Weston CF (January 2000). "The mysterious case of the lost pituitary: amiodarone-induced hypothyroidism". Hosp Med. 61 (1): 64–5. doi:10.12968/hosp.2000.61.1.1869. PMID 10735160.
  4. Minakshi B, Alok S, Hillol KP (2005). "Lymphocytic hypophysitis presenting as pituitary apoplexy in a male". Neurol India. 53 (3): 363–4. doi:10.4103/0028-3886.16948. PMID 16230817.
  5. Foyouzi, N (February 2011). "Lymphocytic adenohypophysitis". Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey. 66 (2): 109–13. doi:10.1097/ogx.0b013e31821d4047. PMID 21592417.
  6. Caturegli, P (2007). "Autoimmune hypophysitis: an underestimated disease in search of its autoantigen(s)". J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 92 (6): 2038–40. doi:10.1210/jc.2007-0808. PMID 17554056.
  7. Crock, Patricia A., et al., Pituitary autoantibodies, Neuroendocrinology, Current Opinion in Endocrinology & Diabetes, 13(4):344-350, August 2006.
  8. Soule SG, Fahie-Wilson M, Tomlinson S (February 1996). "Failure of the short ACTH test to unequivocally diagnose long-standing symptomatic secondary hypoadrenalism". Clin. Endocrinol. 44 (2): 137–40. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2265.1996.540363.x. PMID 8849565.
  9. Maghnie M, Uga E, Temporini F, Di Iorgi N, Secco A, Tinelli C, Papalia A, Casini MR, Loche S (May 2005). "Evaluation of adrenal function in patients with growth hormone deficiency and hypothalamic-pituitary disorders: comparison between insulin-induced hypoglycemia, low-dose ACTH, standard ACTH and CRH stimulation tests". Eur. J. Endocrinol. 152 (5): 735–41. doi:10.1530/eje.1.01911. PMID 15879359.
  10. Clayton, Richard. "EVALUATION OF PATIENTS WITH PITUITARY/ HYPOTHALAMIC SPACE OCCUPYING LESIONS". endotext.org. Archived from the original on 25 February 2013. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
  11. Maghnie M, Aimaretti G, Bellone S, Bona G, Bellone J, Baldelli R, de Sanctis C, Gargantini L, Gastaldi R, Ghizzoni L, Secco A, Tinelli C, Ghigo E (April 2005). "Diagnosis of GH deficiency in the transition period: accuracy of insulin tolerance test and insulin-like growth factor-I measurement". Eur. J. Endocrinol. 152 (4): 589–96. doi:10.1530/eje.1.01873. PMID 15817915.
  12. Biller BM, Samuels MH, Zagar A, Cook DM, Arafah BM, Bonert V, Stavrou S, Kleinberg DL, Chipman JJ, Hartman ML (May 2002). "Sensitivity and specificity of six tests for the diagnosis of adult GH deficiency". J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 87 (5): 2067–79. doi:10.1210/jc.87.5.2067. PMID 11994342.
  13. "Health Alert: Adrenal Crisis Causes Death in Some People Who Were Treated With hGH". National Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases Information Service. Archived from the original on 27 January 2013. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
  14. Caturegli, Patrizio, and Tzou, Shey-Cherng, Hypophysitis, in Rose, Noel R., and Mack, Ian R., The Autoimmune diseases, chap. 40, at pg. 548.
  15. Howlett T.A.; Levy M.J.; Robertson I.J. (2010). "How reliably can autoimmune hypophysitis be diagnosed without pituitary biopsy". Clinical Endocrinology. 73 (1): 18–21. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2265.2009.03765.x. PMID 20039888.
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