[Pituitary function in hemochromatosis]

Abstract

A review of the literature on pituitary function in haemochromatosis is presented. In morphological studies pituitary iron deposition, in particular in gonadotropic cells, has been demonstrated. In a number of case series, insufficiency of pituitary gonadotropic secretion with clinical hypogonadism was observed in 46% of the patients. Overt insufficiency of the other hormonal axes was infrequent. However, subclinical insufficiency of the growth hormone axis was present in 15%, of the lactotropic axis in 8%, of the thyroid axis in 4% and of the adrenocortical axis in 1.5% of the patients. Lactotropic, thyroid or adrenocortical insufficiency was usually associated with hypogonadism or growth hormone insufficiency. Investigation of pituitary function (in first line the gonadotropic and the somatotropic function) in patients with primary or secondary haemochromatosis is recommended on wide indications, in order to initiate relevant substitution therapy.