Diseases of the hypothalamic-pituitary system

The hypothalamic-pituitary system forms a functional unit that controls the function of the glands with internal secretion, influences metabolic processes in the body and has an overall effect on the organs and tissues of the body. Both the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland produce and secrete a number of hormones through which they control the body. The pathological condition occurs when there is insufficient or, on the contrary, excessive production of hormones.

Hypothalamic insufficiency

 * Insufficient production of hormones, which subsequently stimulate the production of pituitary hormones (corticoliberin, thyroliberin, gonadoliberin, somatoliberin), but also inhibitors (somatostatin, prolactostatin).
 * Oxytocin insufficiency.
 * Insufficiency of vasopressin ( ADH ) and the development of diabetes insipidus centralis.

Pituitary insufficiency

 * Panhypopituarism (lack of all pituitary hormones).
 * Hypopituitarism


 * Adrenal cortex insufficiency
 * Central hypothyroidism.
 * Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.
 * Growth disorders.
 * Lactation disorders.

- Overproduction of hormones by the pituitary

 * Gigantism, acromegaly.
 * Central hyperthyroidism.
 * Cushing's disease.
 * Hyperprolactinemia.

Etiology
Causes of impairment of the hypothalamic-pituitary system :


 * Tumors
 * inflammations ( meningitis )
 * granulomatous processes
 * trauma
 * vascular supply disorders, aneurysms
 * hemorrhage
 * ischemia
 * developmental defects
 * autoimmune disorders
 * conditions after surgical treatment

Related Articles

 * Hypophysis
 * Examination of pituitary function
 * Sheehan syndrome

References [ edit | edit source ]

 * ČESKA, Richard, et al. Internal 1st edition. Triton, 2010.  ISBN 978-80-7387-423-0.