Treatment of lymphocytic hypophysitis by high-dose methylprednisolone pulse therapy.

Abstract

A 26-year-old woman 3 months post-partum was admitted to our hospital suffering from gross visual disturbance. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a pituitary mass, extending into the suprasellar cistern, with intense gadolinium enhancement. Lymphocytic hypophysitis (LHy) was suspected, and the patient received high dose methylprednisolone pulse therapy (HDMPT). Her visual disturbance was dramatically ameliorated on the first day following initiation of HDMPT, and MRI revealed marked mass reduction. Her pituitary function recovered 6 months after therapy. This case report suggests that HDMPT proved effective for mass reduction of severe LHy and could obviate the need for a useless surgery.

• Authors: Keiko Yamagami, Katsunobu Yoshioka, Haruna Sakai, Mariko Fukumoto, Tetsuya Yamakita, Masayuki Hosoi, Tomofusa Ishii, Toshihiko Sato, Shiro Tanaka, Satoru Fujii
• Journal: Internal medicine (Tokyo, Japan) (Intern Med) Vol. 42 Issue 2 Pg. 168-73 (Feb 2003) ISSN: 0918-2918 [Print] Japan
• PMID: 12636236 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Methylprednisolone

Topics

• Adult
• Blood Chemical Analysis
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Hypopituitarism (diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Infusions, Intravenous
• Lymphocytosis (diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Methylprednisolone (administration & dosage)
• Pituitary Diseases (diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Pituitary Function Tests
• Pituitary Gland, Anterior (drug effects, pathology)
• Pulse Therapy, Drug
• Risk Assessment
• Treatment Outcome