Altered Hormonal & Metabolic Function
Alterations in Pituitary Gland
Alterations in Thyroid Gland
Alterations in Adrenal Glands
Leads to
Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone Secretion
Diabetes Insipidus
causes the body to retain water and certain levels of electrolytes in the blood due to increase production of antidiuretic hormone (ADH).
Treatment: Medications that inhibit the action of ADH (also called vasopressin), Surgical removal of a tumor that is producing ADH (if applicable), Other medicines to help regulate body fluid volume.
Diagnosed by physical examination, blood & urine tests
Caused by insufficient production of ADH which leads to an imbalance of fluids in the body, this imbalance makes you very thirsty even if you've had something to drink
Treatment: Medications: desmopressin (DDAVP, Minirin, others) which replaces the missing anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) and decreases urination.
Diagnosed by Water deprivation test, Magnetic resonance imaging-look for abnormalities in or near the pituitary gland, and Genetic screening.
Alterations Pituitary Gland & Adrenal Glands
Leads to
Cushing Syndrome
Diagnosed by Urine and blood tests (measure hormone levels), computerized tomography (CT) scans, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for pituitary and adrenal glands abnormalities
occurs when the body is exposed to high levels of the hormone cortisol for a long time, or when the body makes too much cortisol on its own, its signs include a fatty hump between your shoulders, a rounded face, and pink or purple stretch marks on your skin.
Treatment: medications to decrease cortisol production in the adrenal glands or decrease ACTH production in the pituitary gland (e.g. ketoconazole (Nizoral), mitotane (Lysodren), metyrapone (Metopirone).
Leads to
Hyperthyroidism
Hypothyroidism
Leads to
Addison Disease
Diagnosed by a blood test (measure blood levels of sodium, potassium, cortisol, and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)), computerized tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen to check the size of the adrenal glands
caused by damage to the adrenal glands, resulting in not enough of the hormone cortisol and aldosterone. Elevated levels of Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH) stimulates skin melanocytes.
Treatment: Hormone replacement therapy-Hydrocortisone (Cortef), prednisone or methylprednisolone to replace cortisol and Fludrocortisone acetate to replace aldosterone
Caused by enlargement of the thyroid gland. Then thyroid gland produces too much of the hormone thyroxine, which can accelerate the body's metabolism, causing unintentional weight loss and a rapid or irregular heartbeat
Treatment: Radioactive iodine (absorbed by the thyroid gland, where it causes the gland to shrink), Anti-thyroid medications, Surgery (thyroidectomy).
Diagnosed by medical history and physical exam, Blood tests (measure thyroxine and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) can confirm the diagnosis), and thyroid ultrasound.
Often results from deficits in thyroid hormone synthesis. Can cause a number of health problems, such as obesity, joint pain, infertility and heart disease.
Treatment: daily use of the synthetic thyroid hormone levothyroxine (Levo-T, Synthroid, others), Iron supplements or multivitamins that contain iron for better absorption of primary medications.
Diagnosed by Blood tests (measure the level of TSH and sometimes the level of the thyroid hormone thyroxine)