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Mortality and pituitary disease

Paul M Stewart1, Mark Sherlock

  • 1Department of Endocrinology, The Medical School, College of Medical and Dental Sciences Edgbaston, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom. p.m.stewart@bham.ac.uk

Annales D'Endocrinologie
|April 17, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Patients with pituitary tumors face higher mortality, mainly from vascular issues. Controlling hormone excess, like cortisol or growth hormone (GH), and managing cardiovascular risks can normalize mortality, but some risk may remain post-treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Oncology
  • Cardiovascular Medicine

Background:

  • Pituitary tumors are associated with increased mortality.
  • Vascular disease is a primary cause of death in these patients.
  • Hormonal imbalances from pituitary tumors significantly impact patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze mortality data in patients with pituitary tumors.
  • To identify key factors influencing mortality rates.
  • To assess the impact of hormonal control and risk factor management on patient survival.

Main Methods:

  • Review of outcome data from large patient series.
  • Analysis of mortality causes, focusing on vascular disease.
  • Evaluation of the effects of managing cortisol and growth hormone (GH) hypersecretion.

Main Results:

  • Confirmed increased mortality in pituitary tumor patients.
  • Identified vascular disease as the predominant cause of death.
  • Demonstrated that controlling cortisol and GH hypersecretion, alongside cardiovascular risk reduction, normalizes mortality rates.
  • Observed persistent excess mortality even in successfully treated patients.

Conclusions:

  • Effective management of hormonal hypersecretion and cardiovascular risk factors is crucial for improving survival in Cushing's disease and acromegaly.
  • While treatment can normalize mortality, a residual risk of excess mortality may persist.
  • Further research may be needed to address the long-term residual risks in "cured" patients.

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