Cholestasis secondary to panhypopituitarism in an infant

Daniel DeSalvo1, John F Pohl, Don P Wilson

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital at Scott and White, Texas A&M Health Science Center, 2401 S. 31st St., Temple, TX 76508, USA.

Insights

Infant cholestasis can signal panhypopituitarism, a rare endocrine disorder. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of pituitary malfunction resolved hypoglycemia and cholestasis in a rare case, highlighting growth hormone

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Hepatology
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Infantile cholestasis necessitates comprehensive evaluation to rule out hepatic, endocrine, and metabolic etiologies.
  • Timely diagnosis is crucial for preventing hepatic and neurologic complications in infants.

Observation:

  • A rare case of infant cholestasis associated with panhypopituitarism, hypoglycemia, and bile duct paucity is presented.
  • Liver biopsy revealed small bile ducts and atrophied biliary cells with reduced lumen size.

Findings:

  • Panhypopituitarism was identified as the cause of cholestasis and hypoglycemia in this infant.
  • Treatment of the underlying pituitary disorder led to the resolution of both hypoglycemia and cholestasis.

Implications:

  • Panhypopituitarism should be considered in infants presenting with cholestasis and hypoglycemia.
  • Growth hormone deficiency may play a role in the development of biliary duct abnormalities.

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