Primary Hypothyroidism Presenting as Pituitary Failure
January 1973
in “
BMJ
”
TLDR Primary hypothyroidism can mimic pituitary failure but improves with hormone therapy.
The document described a case of primary hypothyroidism that initially presented as pituitary failure. In this case, plasma cortisol and growth hormone levels did not increase with induced hypoglycemia but did rise following vasopressin injection. The thyroid-stimulating hormone responded to thyrotrophin-releasing hormone administration. No tumor recurrence was observed during surgery. Replacement therapy with cortisone, testosterone, and thyroxine resulted in increased energy, hair growth, and reduced cold sensitivity in the patient.