Korean J Med.  2008 Nov;75(5):597-601.

Isolated adrenocorticotropic hormone deficiency associated with empty sella syndrome

• Choi JH
• Park BH
• Jo CG

Abstract

Isolated adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) deficiency is an uncommon disorder for which the pathogenetic mechanism has not yet been identified. It has been reported that isolated ACTH deficiency (ICD) may be accompanied by deficiencies in other pituitary hormones; impaired growth hormone (GH) secretion was noted in 20 to 30% of ICD patients. Here, we describe a female patient with isolated ACTH deficiency accompanied by empty sella syndrome presenting as hypoglycemia, which was confirmed via various endocrine tests and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the sella turcica. The patient's symptoms improved rapidly with prednisolone therapy and, during follow-up, her previously impaired GH response to provocative stimuli and high TSH levels were corrected by glucocorticoid replacement alone. However, treatment failed to normalize plasma IGF-1 levels, suggesting that physiological cortisol levels are necessary for a normal plasma GH response to provocative stimuli.

Keyword

Empty sella syndrome; Isolated ACTH deficiency

MeSH Terms

Adrenal Insufficiency
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
Empty Sella Syndrome
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Growth Hormone
Humans
Hydrocortisone
Hypoglycemia
Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Plasma
Prednisolone
Sella Turcica
Adrenal Insufficiency
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
Growth Hormone
Hydrocortisone
Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
Prednisolone