-
Cureus Aug 2023Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory condition that can impact multiple organs in the body such as the lungs, skin, eyes, and, occasionally, the central nervous system. When...
Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory condition that can impact multiple organs in the body such as the lungs, skin, eyes, and, occasionally, the central nervous system. When sarcoidosis affects the nervous system, it is referred to as neurosarcoidosis and is estimated to occur in approximately 5%-15% of sarcoid patients. When neurosarcoidosis affects the pituitary gland, it can result in panhypopituitarism, which can be life-threatening. A 35-year-old male with a known diagnosis of sarcoidosis by skin biopsies presented to the hospital with altered mental status, hypernatremia, hypotension, and hypothermia. He reported symptoms of polyuria and polydipsia for several weeks before admission. Laboratory workup revealed elevated serum sodium at 167 mmol/L, high serum osmolality at 381 mOsm/kg, and low urine osmolality at 381 mOsm/kg, consistent with diabetes insipidus. Anterior pituitary hormone profile workup revealed low 8 am serum cortisol (1.9 mcg/dL) and inappropriately normal adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) (34 pg/ml), low serum free testosterone (<2.5 ng/dL), low luteinizing hormone (0.7 mIU/ml), low follicular stimulating hormone (< 2.6 mIU/ml), low free T4 at 0.4 ng/dL. and inappropriately normal thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) at 2.77 uIU/mL. Serum prolactin was mildly elevated at 86.8 ng/mL. Angiotensin-converting enzyme level was within the normal range at 33 U/L. A diagnosis of panhypopituitarism was made. Brain MRI revealed a 3 cm mass in the suprasellar region involving the hypothalamus and bilateral optic tracts with a mass effect on the anterior third ventricle. No discrete pituitary or stalk lesion was identified. A ventriculostomy tube was placed for developing hydrocephalus. A biopsy of the suprasellar mass revealed non-caseating granuloma, confirming neurosarcoidosis. Treatment was initiated with high-dose IV corticosteroids to manage secondary adrenal insufficiency and neurosarcoidosis. He was also started on IV desmopressin and IV levothyroxine to manage his diabetes insipidus and central hypothyroidism. He was transitioned to oral therapy upon discharge. Panhypopituitarism secondary to neurosarcoidosis is a rare presentation that can occur due to the infiltration of the pituitary gland or the infiltration of the hypothalamus affecting the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. Neurosarcoidosis should be considered a differential when evaluating patients with symptoms consistent with panhypopituitarism. Prompt diagnosis and initiation of corticosteroids and deficient hormones can be lifesaving.
PubMed: 37692696
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.43169 -
Singapore Medical Journal Jan 2023Behavioural sleep problems are very common in children and are concerns for many parents. This review discusses normal sleep physiology and sleep development and focuses... (Review)
Review
Behavioural sleep problems are very common in children and are concerns for many parents. This review discusses normal sleep physiology and sleep development and focuses on common behavioural sleep problems in childhood, including behavioural insomnia of childhood, parasomnias and sleep-related movement disorders, highlighting their clinical features and management. Behavioural insomnia of childhood is characterised by learned difficulties in falling asleep and/or staying asleep. Management includes establishing bedtime routines and behavioural techniques. Parasomnias include confusional arousals, sleepwalking, sleep terrors and nightmares, and these usually resolve with time. Management includes parental reassurance and behavioural interventions such as scheduled awakening. With regards to sleep enuresis, management includes behavioural modifications, enuresis alarm and desmopressin. Sleep-related movement disorders include sleep-related bruxism and sleep-related rhythmic movements, of which body rocking is the most common. Early identification and management of behavioural sleep problems may prevent their negative impact on children as well as their families.
PubMed: 36695280
DOI: 10.4103/singaporemedj.SMJ-2021-102 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Dec 2019Hypopituitarism includes all clinical conditions that result in partial or complete failure of the anterior and posterior lobe of the pituitary gland's ability to... (Review)
Review
Hypopituitarism includes all clinical conditions that result in partial or complete failure of the anterior and posterior lobe of the pituitary gland's ability to secrete hormones. The aim of management is usually to replace the target-hormone of hypothalamo-pituitary-endocrine gland axis with the exceptions of secondary hypogonadism when fertility is required, and growth hormone deficiency (GHD), and to safely minimise both symptoms and clinical signs. Adrenocorticotropic hormone deficiency replacement is best performed with the immediate-release oral glucocorticoid hydrocortisone (HC) in 2-3 divided doses. However, novel once-daily modified-release HC targets a more physiological exposure of glucocorticoids. GHD is treated currently with daily subcutaneous GH, but current research is focusing on the development of once-weekly administration of recombinant GH. Hypogonadism is targeted with testosterone replacement in men and on estrogen replacement therapy in women; when fertility is wanted, replacement targets secondary or tertiary levels of hormonal settings. Thyroid-stimulating hormone replacement therapy follows the rules of primary thyroid gland failure with L-thyroxine replacement. Central diabetes insipidus is nowadays replaced by desmopressin. Certain clinical scenarios may have to be promptly managed to avoid short-term or long-term sequelae such as pregnancy in patients with hypopituitarism, pituitary apoplexy, adrenal crisis, and pituitary metastases.
PubMed: 31817511
DOI: 10.3390/jcm8122153 -
The American Journal of Case Reports Dec 2021BACKGROUND Diabetes insipidus (DI) is a clinical syndrome characterized by polyuria and polydipsia that result from a deficiency of antidiuretic hormone (ADH), central...
BACKGROUND Diabetes insipidus (DI) is a clinical syndrome characterized by polyuria and polydipsia that result from a deficiency of antidiuretic hormone (ADH), central DI, or resistance to ADH, nephrogenic DI. In otherwise healthy patients with DI, normal thirst mechanism, and free access to water, the thirst system can maintain plasma osmolality in the near-normal range. However, in cases where DI presents with adipsia, cognitive impairment, or restricted access to water, true hypernatremia may occur, leading to severe morbidity and mortality. CASE REPORT We report a case of a 2-year-old boy who had global developmental delay and post-brain debulking surgery involving the hypothalamic region, which resulted in central DI and thirst center dysfunction. We describe the clinical presentation, the current understanding of adipsic DI, and a new practical approach for management. The main guidelines of treatment include (1) fixed desmopressin dosing that allows minimal urinary breakthroughs in-between the doses; (2) timely diaper weight-based replacement of water; (3) bodyweight-based fluid correction 2 times a day, and (4) providing the nutritional and water requirements in a way similar to any healthy child but at fixed time intervals. CONCLUSIONS This plan of management showed good effectiveness in controlling plasma sodium level and volume status of a child with adipsic DI without interfering with his average growth. This home treatment method is practical and readily available, provided that the family remains very adherent.
Topics: Child; Child, Preschool; Diabetes Insipidus; Diabetes Insipidus, Nephrogenic; Diabetes Insipidus, Neurogenic; Diabetes Mellitus; Humans; Hypernatremia; Male; Thirst
PubMed: 34898594
DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.934193 -
Cureus Feb 2023Euvolemic hyponatremia is frequently encountered in hospitalized patients and the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) is the most common... (Review)
Review
Euvolemic hyponatremia is frequently encountered in hospitalized patients and the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) is the most common cause in most patients. SIADH diagnosis is confirmed by decreased serum osmolality, inappropriately elevated urine osmolality (>100 mosmol/L), and elevated urine sodium (Na) levels. Patients should be screened for thiazide use and adrenal or thyroid dysfunction should be ruled out before making a diagnosis of SIADH. Clinical mimics of SIADH like cerebral salt wasting and reset osmostat should be considered in some patients. The distinction between acute (<48 hours) versus chronic (>48 hours or without baseline labs) hyponatremia and clinical symptomatology are important to initiate proper therapy. Acute hyponatremia is a medical emergency and osmotic demyelination syndrome (ODS) occurs commonly when rapidly correcting any chronic hyponatremia. Hypertonic (3%) saline should be used in patients with significant neurologic symptoms and maximal correction of serum Na level should be limited to <8 mEq over 24 hours to prevent the ODS. Simultaneous administration of parenteral desmopressin is one of the best ways to prevent overly rapid Na correction in high-risk patients. Free water restriction combined with increased solute intake (e.g., urea) is the most effective therapy to treat patients with SIADH. 0.9% saline acts as a hypertonic solution in patients with hyponatremia and should be avoided in the treatment of SIADH due to rapid fluctuations in serum Na levels. Dual effects of 0.9% saline resulting in rapid correction of serum Na during infusion (inducing ODS) and post-infusion worsening of serum Na levels are described in the article with clinical examples.
PubMed: 37007374
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.35574