12 Questions
What is the condition in children caused by hypersecretion of growth hormone before the epiphyseal growth plates have closed?
Gigantism
What disorder is characterized by enlargement of peripheral body parts and soft tissues in adults due to excess growth hormone?
Acromegaly
What is the term for the total absence of all pituitary secretions, commonly congenital in nature?
Simmond's disease
Which condition results in an excess of GH in adults causing enlargement of peripheral body parts but not an increase in height?
Acromegaly
What causes Cushing's syndrome, a group of symptoms produced by an oversecretion of ACTH?
Hypersecretion of GH
'Sheehan's syndrome' is common in maternal problems due to what condition?
Postpartum pituitary necrosis
What is a common sign of ADH dysfunction?
Hair loss and wrinkles
What is a possible cause of Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone Secretion (SIADH)?
Brain surgery or tumor
How does Diabetes Insipidus (DI) typically present?
Polyuria with diluted urine output
What is a common symptom of central Diabetes Insipidus?
Primary head trauma
How is the clinical manifestation of SIADH different from that of Diabetes Insipidus?
SIADH leads to fluid volume overload, while DI results in dehydration
What is the medical management approach for patients with Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone Secretion (SIADH)?
'Sometimes a hypertonic NaCl (3%) may be prescribed and administered IV'
Study Notes
Pituitary Gland Disorders
- Hyperpituitarism: Hypersecretion of GH or ACTH
- Causes Gigantism in children (excessive growth of all bones) and Acromegaly in adults (enlargement of peripheral body parts and soft tissue)
Acromegaly
- Caused by excess GH in adults
- Characterized by:
- Enlargement of peripheral body parts (feet, hands, jaw)
- Bone and tissue deformity
- Diaphoresis (cold sweats)
- Oily and rough skin
- Organomegaly (enlargement of organs)
Hypopituitarism
- Hyposecretion of growth hormone by the anterior pituitary gland
- Causes:
- Trauma
- Tumor
- Vascular lesion
- Surgery/radiation of pituitary gland
- Panhypopituitarism (Simmond's disease): Total absence of all pituitary secretion
- Sheehan's syndrome: Common in maternal problems due to postpartum pituitary necrosis
Symptoms of Hypopituitarism
- Retarded physical growth
- Premature aging (hair loss, wrinkles) if it occurs after puberty
- Low intellectual development
- Poor development of secondary sex change characteristics
- Hemianopsia (loss of vision in half the vertical visual field in one or both eyes)
- Headache due to tumor
- Weight loss
- Emaciation
Posterior Pituitary Gland
ADH Dysfunction
- Excess of ADH: Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone Secretion (SIADH)
- Etiology:
- Head injury
- Brain surgery or tumor
- Infection
- Medications (vincristine, phenothiazines, tricyclic antidepressants, thiazide diuretics, and nicotine)
- Clinical manifestations:
- Inability to excrete dilute urine
- Fluid retention
- Sodium deficiency (dilutional hyponatremia)
- Fluid volume overload
- Changes in mental status due to brain edema
- Weight gain
- Edema
- Tachycardia
- Hypertension
Medical Management of SIADH
- Restricting fluid intake
- Diuretic agents (furosemide) may be used along with fluid restriction
- In severe hyponatremia, hypertonic NaCl (3%) may be prescribed and administered IV
Nursing Management of SIADH
- Close monitoring of I&O, daily weight, urine and blood chemistries, and neurologic status
Diabetes Insipidus (DI)
- Hyposecretion of ADH
- Characterized by:
- Abnormally large volumes of dilute urine
- Polyuria (greater than 250 mL per hour; 4L-24L urine per day)
- Diluted urine (white colored urine)
- Etiology:
- Central DI: head trauma, surgery, infection, brain tumors, or cerebral vascular disease
- Nephrogenic DI: kidney injury, medications (lithium), hypokalemia, and hypercalcemia
- Dipsogenic DI: defect in the hypothalamus
Explore the disorders associated with the anterior pituitary gland, focusing on hyperpituitarism which involves the hypersecretion of growth hormone (GH) or adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). Learn about the conditions like Cushing’s syndrome, gigantism, and acromegaly that result from these hormonal imbalances.
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