Pituitary apoplexy developing during pregnancy: escape from the verge of death

Abstract

Objective: Pituitary apoplexy during pregnancy is extremely rare. Hypofunction of multiple glands due to pituitary hormone deficiency can be life threatening for the fetus and mother. A poorly functioning pituitary gland presents a variety of neurological and endocrinological symptoms, making it difficult to diagnose. The authors present a case of pituitary apoplexy in a 24-week pregnant woman who was not previously diagnosed with pituitary adenoma. Case Report: A 26-year-old woman who was 24 weeks into her first pregnancy presented with pituitary apoplexy, which included symptoms of increasing headache, nausea, vomiting, visual disturbances, and hypotensive attacks. With a multidisciplinary approach involving the departments of neurosurgery, endocrinology, gynaecology, and obstetrics, the patient underwent rapid replacement therapy and pituitary tumour excision. Pregnancy ended at the 39th week without any feto-maternal complication. Conclusion: Pituitary apoplexy developing during pregnancy is rare and, difficult to diagnose, and requires a multidisciplinary approach to achieve a successful outcome.

Keywords

• pituitary apoplexy
• pituitary neoplasms
• pregnancy