What Causes Pituitary Apoplexy?

Pituitary apoplexy is an emergent medical event where a patient experiences infarction or hemorrhage in their pituitary gland. Symptoms of pituitary apoplexy include altered consciousness, vomiting, headache, facial pain, fever, loss of body and facial hair, infertility, appetite loss, weight loss, weight gain, fatigue, dizziness, seizures, visual defect, altered sensorium, neck stiffness, and endocrine dysfunction. Most symptoms are related to hormonal abnormalities caused by hemorrhage or infarction. Diagnosis of pituitary apoplexy is made with the use of MRI scans, testing of hormone levels, and vision testing. Treatment of an individual affected by pituitary apoplexy includes the high-dose corticosteroid administered at a rapid rate, diligent monitoring of electrolyte and fluid levels, and emergency transsphenoidal surgery.